Kashmir Impulse Desk

New Delhi, June 17

India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) said on Wednesday it had attached two properties in Jammu and Kashmir belonging to a man accused of facilitating arms smuggling and terror financing in a Pakistan-backed militant conspiracy case.

The agency said the properties belonged to Shaheen Ahmad Lone, an accused currently facing trial in a case linked to militant groups Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

According to the NIA, investigations found that Lone was involved in smuggling arms, ammunition and explosives from Pakistan across the Line of Control, the de facto border dividing the disputed Himalayan region.

The agency alleged that the weapons were subsequently supplied to militants operating in Kashmir.

Investigators also accused Lone of receiving and transferring funds intended for militant activities.

Lone was arrested in September 2020, and charges were filed against him in March 2021 under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, India’s principal anti-terror legislation.

The NIA said the properties were attached under Section 33(1) of the Act following orders issued by a special NIA court in Jammu.

The assets, located in Kanispora village in Baramulla district, include a residential house built on 7.5 marlas of land and another six-marla parcel on which a shed has been constructed.

The attachment forms part of the agency’s continuing efforts to target infrastructure and assets allegedly linked to militancy financing networks in Kashmir.