NIA raids eight locations in Kashmir in ‘White-Collar’ Terror Module Case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday carried out raids at eight locations across Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts of Jammu and Kashmir, as part of its probe into a suspected “white-collar” terror module linked to the deadly car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort.

According to officials, searches were conducted at the residence of Moulvi Irfan Ahmad Wagay in Shopian, who has been identified as the mastermind behind the radicalisation and recruitment of educated individuals into the module. Wagay, who played a key role in orchestrating the network, was arrested in October by local police and later taken into NIA custody last month.

The case pertains to a car bomb explosion near the Red Fort that claimed 15 lives and left several others injured. The NIA suspects that the module, comprising professionals such as religious scholars and doctors, operated covertly to provide ideological support, recruitment, and logistical assistance for terror activities hence termed a “white-collar” network.

Raids were also carried out in Koil, Chandgam, Malangpora and Samboora areas of Pulwama, targeting locations linked to people associated with the blast. Additionally, searches were conducted at the residence of Dr Adeel Ahmad Rather, who was arrested earlier from Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur in November for alleged involvement in the case.

Officials said incriminating documents and digital evidence were seized during the searches. Further investigation is underway to uncover the full extent of the module’s operations and its links to larger terror networks.