The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday raided eight locations in the Jammu region in connection with a case involving terrorist infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir.

Police sources said that NIA along with local police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) conducted raids at locations in Reasi, Doda, Udhampur, Ramban and Kishtwar districts.

“The NIA raids are aimed at dismantling the network of OGWs (ground workers) who help infiltration attempts and at the same time gather critical information on people linked to terrorist activities in the region,” said a senior official, requesting anonymity.

The search targets OGW, which plays a key role in supporting terrorist activities by providing them with intelligence and logistical support.

The investigating agency on Wednesday arrested an accused wanted in a 2020 Kashmir narco-terrorism case related to a conspiracy by banned terrorist organizations in Pakistan to procure and sell drugs to raise funds to promote terrorism, the NIA said.

Muneer Ahmad Banday, who has been evading arrest for the past four years, was a key part of the conspiracy to generate funds to spread terror in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India.

The funds were to be used to promote terrorist activity in Jammu and Kashmir through a network of OGWs.

“The conspiracy, involving operatives of banned terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) came to light in June 2020 when the Handwara (Kupwara) police registered a case following the seizure of 2 kg of heroin and ₹20 lakh while checking vehicles at Kairo Bridge,” the NIA said.

The agency is continuing its investigations to dismantle the narco-terrorism network and destroy the root of terror financing in the country, particularly in Kashmir.