Haridwar: Acting on a tip-off, the Jammu and Kashmir Police carried out a sensitive early morning raid in Asafnagar village under Kaliyar police station limits in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar district and arrested a local woman allegedly linked to suspicious financial transactions routed through Pakistan.
The accused, identified as Sonam, has been taken into custody on allegations of involvement in crores of rupees worth of suspected illegal money transfers through hawala and other clandestine channels.
Police sources said the case traces back to an FIR registered in Lakhanpur area of Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir.
A few days ago, Lakhanpur police detained a suspect from whom investigators reportedly recovered evidence related to financial transactions connected to Pakistan.
During interrogation, the suspect allegedly disclosed Sonam’s name, prompting the J&K Police to coordinate with Haridwar Police and launch the targeted operation.
Though no cash was recovered during the raid, investigating agencies are now closely scrutinising the woman’s bank accounts, mobile phone records and digital transaction history.
Officials suspect the network may extend beyond money laundering and could have larger national security implications.
The identification and arrest operation reportedly lasted nearly two-and-a-half hours. After prolonged questioning, the Jammu and Kashmir Police secured transit remand and took the accused along for further investigation. Local police assisted the operation.
SHO Kamal Mohan Bhandari confirmed that the original case was registered in Jammu and Kashmir and that further investigation was being conducted there.
News of the arrest spread quickly through Asafnagar village and nearby areas, leaving residents and family members shocked.
Locals expressed disbelief that an alleged illegal financial network of such scale could have links to their village.
Security experts say financial networks linked to Pakistan are often suspected in cases involving hawala operations, money laundering and terror funding.
Sources indicated that national agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), could also join the probe if required.
Investigators are now examining the woman’s contacts, travel history and social media activity as part of a wider effort to uncover possible cross-border links and dismantle illegal financial channels.
