New Delhi: 

In an attempt to crack down on terror networks and overground workers (OGWs) of terror outfits, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday conducted raids in Baramulla, Srinagar and multiple other locations in Jammu and Kashmir.

These raids were conducted in two villages of Fatehgarh and Audora in the Baramulla district. Houses of Arif Manzoor Sheikh of Fatehgarh and Hurriyat (Geelani) activist Abdul Rashid Rather of Audora were also raided.

The NIA has intensified raids after the recent killings of civilians and sources say that these raids may continue.

The agency is probing the cases related to the killing of minority community members, including those of two teachers and a pharmacy owner. They were among 11 civilians shot dead in targeted attacks in different parts of Kashmir this month.

The brutal murder of five labourers from Bihar triggered panic among skilled and unskilled migratory workers who started leaving the Valley. 

Last week, the agency raided 16 locations across the UT and arrested Md Haneef Chiralu, Hafeez, Owais Dar, Mateen Bhat and Arif Farooq Bhat and also conducted searches at two locations in Srinagar on October 15. Electronic devices and other incriminating documents were seized during the raids. 

Concerned over the killings of civilians in J&K, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has assured that the perpetrators of the attacks will be punished soon and the Indian Army will avenge the killings of innocent civilians.

Indian Army Special Forces have already been deployed to search and target small groups of terrorists hiding in the thick forests in Poonch.

As per the ground assessment, there may be two to four terrorists operating in small groups and the Army Headquarters has given free hand to the forces on the ground to conduct counter-terrorism and counter-infiltration operations.

Nine Army soldiers have lost their lives in these operations.