New Delhi, July 5 -- The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has denied media reports that its raid near the Dalai Lama's home in McLeodganj, Himachal Pradesh, was linked to the spiritual leader's security or Khalistani terror funding.

The July 4 operation targeted a human trafficking ring called the "US Donkey Route" instead, a term that has seen a major popularization after the popular Bollywood film 'Dunki', which starred Shah Rukh Khan, and had a storyline of the perilous journey of illegal immigrants.

Local police accompanied investigators during the search. False stories spread because the raid happened during the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday celebrations, drawing global visitors to McLeodganj.

The NIA called these reports "complet...