The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today carried out raids across 12 locations in Srinagar and parts of North Kashmir in connection with the terror funding case.

Sources in the agency said that premises belonging to family, relatives and aides of influential businessman Zahoor Watali were raided. Watali was questioned by the agency sleuths while the raids went on for hours.

Watali, a Srinagar businessman, has been under the NIA scanner for nearly two months and has been called for repeated questioning at the agency's Delhi headquarters.

A source in the NIA said that "Watali has been summoned at least 25 times. Although cooperative, he is not spilling the beans".

Besides Srinagar, locations in Baramulla and Handwara were searched by the NIA officials today. Watali is known for his proximity with mainstream politicians as well as separatists in Kashmir.

"The case is regarding terror funding so we expect to get some incriminating documents related to fuelling unrest in the Valley," sources told India Today.

The premises searched by the NIA included that of Watali's three close associates, two brothers-in-law and Handwara-based in-laws.

Zahoor Watali's properties in Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Dubai are also under the scanner, said sources in the NIA.

The house of Shafi Rishi, an advocate reported to be close to Watali, was also raided. The NIA also searched Watali's driver Mohammed Akbar's house and the house of one Ghulam Mohammad Bhat in Tarhama village, who is the munshi in a plywood factory run by Peerzada Ghulam Nabi. Nabi's house too was searched.

Sources told India Today that today's raids were conducted after disclosures made by the seven separatists in NIA custody.

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