 Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 20: In a big success, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has apprehended Muneer Ahmad Banday, a key accused in a 2020 narco-terror case in Kashmir, who had been on the run for four years.
Banday was part of a larger conspiracy orchestrated by banned Pakistan-based terrorist organizations, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), to raise funds for terrorism by smuggling and selling narcotic drugs.
The funds generated through these illicit activities were intended to finance terrorist operations in Jammu & Kashmir and other parts of India, with the help of over-ground workers (OGWs).
The case first came to light in June 2020, when Handwara (Kupwara) police intercepted a vehicle at Kairo Bridge during a routine check. The vehicle, driven by accused Abdul Momin Peer, was found carrying 2 kilograms of heroin and Rs 20 lakh in cash. Subse The NIA has apprehended a key accused in a 2020 narco-terror case in Kashmir, who had been on the run for 4-years.
Munner Ahmed Banday was part of a larger conspiracy orchestrated by banned terror groups to raise funds.
The funds generated through these illicit activities were intended to finance terrorist operations with the help of OGWs.
The case first came to light in June 2020, when police intercepted a vehicle during a routine check.
Recognizing the broader implications of the case, the NIA took over the investigation, re-registering it as RC-03/2020/NIA/JMU on June 23, 2020, under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P) Act].
The agency has since filed multiple chargesheets against 15 accused individuals involved in the conspiracy. The arrest of Banday is considered a significant breakthrough in the ongoing efforts to dismantle the narco-terror network, which has been a critical source of funding for terrorist activities in the region.
The NIA continues its investigation, aiming to uproot the financial networks supporting terrorism and ensure that such operations are completely neutralized. | 