Srinagar, June 28: National Investigation Agency(NIA) on Tuesday said that it arrested two erstwhile cross-LoC traders.

“Yesterday (27.6.2022), NIA arrested two accused persons namely Tanveer Ahmad Wani son of Ghulam Ahmad Wani of Achagoza Rajpora Pulwama and Peer Arshad Iqbal alias Ashu son of Peer Gayasuddin of Khwaja Bagh, Baramulla in case RC-17/2016/NIA/DLI,” NIA said in a statement.

According to NIA, the case pertains to the alleged generation of extra profits through cross LoC trade mechanism between J&K and PaK and purportedly using of those funds for fomenting militant activities in Jammu & Kashmir.

The trade was started in the year 2008 via two Trade Facilitation Centres (TFCs) located at Salamabad, Uri in Baramulla District and Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch district.

As per the SOP of the trade mechanism, 21 articles were allowed to be traded between PaK and J&K and was based on barter system.

“During investigation, it has been revealed that extra profit was generated by over-invoicing of export articles and under-invoicing of import articles by the traders,” NIA claimed.

The arrested accused are “cross-border LoC traders” and were handling several cross LoC trade firms registered in their own names or in the names of their friends, family members, relatives etc, NIA said.

“They used to provide funds to the members of various (militant) organisations, OGWs, Stone-pelters etc,” NIA said, adding, “Further investigation in the case continues.”