On Wednesday, the Jammu and Kashmir Police carried out searches at multiple locations in Srinagar and Sopore, including the homes of separatist leaders, as part of continuing investigations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) cases. A police spokesperson stated that the cases involve banned organisations such as the Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference (Bhat Group), Jammu and Kashmir Muslim League (Masrat Alam Group), and Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (Shabir Shah Group).

"The searches were carried out in connection with suspected members of these proscribed organisations and in furtherance of investigations in the FIR No. 15/2024 under Sections 10, 13 of the UAPA and Sections 121, 121A of the IPC at Police Station Rajbagh, Srinagar; FIR No. 04/2024 under Sections 10, 13 of the UAPA at Police Station Saddar and FIR No. 03/2024 under Sections 10, 13 of the UAPA at Police Station Shaheed Gunj," according to the spokesperson.

Raids were carried out at the residences of Hurriyat leader Prof. Abdul Gani Bhat in Botingoo, Sopore, and Wazir Bagh, Rajbagh, Srinagar. His separatist group, the Muslim Conference, has been banned by the central government. Additionally, police searched the home of detained separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah in connection with FIR No. 04/2024. Shah is currently held in Delhi's Tihar Jail, and his party, the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), has also been banned by the government.

A police spokesperson stated that in connection with FIR No. 03/2024, searches were carried out at seven locations in Srinagar, targeting individuals suspected of unlawful activities.

The searches took place at the residences of separatist leader Masrat Alam Bhat in Habba Kadal, Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat (alias Gugga) in Batmaloo, Ghulam Nabi Wagay in Khanyar, Feroz Ahmad Khan in Khanyar, Mohammad Nazir Khan in Khanyar, Hakeem Abdul Rashid in Lal Bazar, and Javaid Ahmad Munshi (alias Bilpapa) in Methan, Chanpora. Masrat Alam, who was named chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference after Syed Ali Geelani's death, is currently imprisoned in Delhi's Tihar Jail.

"The searches were conducted after obtaining search warrants from the Special Judge designated under the NIA Act in Srinagar. Following legal procedures, all searches were carried out in the presence of an Executive Magistrate and independent witnesses," the police spokesperson conveyed.

He stated that the investigation seeks to eliminate the remaining elements of the secessionist and terrorist networks in Jammu and Kashmir by identifying those involved and taking legal action against them.