The National Investigation Agency has roped in the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) to analyse the images and documents stored in the pen drives and laptops seized from the separatist leaders and hawala dealers during the raids in Kashmir, Delhi and Haryana over the last few days.
Top sources said the NIA has handed over all the technical evidence to the CERT-In in sealed boxes. While the agency has its own team on technical experts to retrieve the data and images, it decided to rope in another agency keeping in mind the legal scrutiny it has to undergo in the days to come.
The agency wants to strengthen its case against the accused by making its evidence admissible in court. The case relates to JuD chief and Lashkar-e-Taiba patron Hafiz Saeed who has been accused by the NIA of acting in connivance with certain separatist leaders for "raising, receiving and collecting funds domestically and abroad through various illegal channels, including hawala, for funding separatist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir."
In its FIR, the NIA has said active militants of proscribed terror organisations like the Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar and Dukhtarane Millat had also been roped in the conspiracy.
The agency has stressed that its probe is focussing on the "larger criminal conspiracy for causing disruption in the Kashmir valley by way of pelting of stones on security forces, systematically burning of schools, damage to public property and waging war against India."
The NIA confirmed last week that prominent businessmen and separatist leaders, whose houses were raided, included Zahoor Watali, Raja Zahoor Khan, Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Bitta Karate and Naeem Khan. While Watali and Zahoor Khan are prominent businessmen, Naeem Khan was chairman of National Front before he was suspended while Dar belongs to JKLF(R).
Not just cash running into a few crores, but gold jewellery and coins worth about Rs 40 lakh, besides other incriminating documents like phone diaries, katchcha receipts and vouchers have also been seized from the alleged financiers, hawala operators and office bearers of separatist groups during the searches, NIA officials said.
Laptops, pen drives and mobile phones seized are now being investigated by the CERT-In experts for further leads, sources said. The CERT is expected to submit its report to the NIA within next five days.
Meanwhile, the NIA has ordered freezing of the bank accounts and lockers of the accused. The agency has also summoned them for questioning.
