The State Investigation Agency (SIA) Saturday filed a chargesheet against 11 people including 2 Pakistan-based terrorists – Hizbul Mujahideen supremo Syed Salahudeen and Basharat Ahmad Bhat – on charges of funding terrorism through cross-border narcotics smuggling.
The FIR, initially lodged in 2022 at Police Station SIA, Jammu, pertains to a cross-border narco-terrorism and terror financing network involving Pakistan-based terrorist organisations and their networks operating in J&K.
The investigation in the case uncovered a well-organised network of terrorist associates and couriers aiding Hizbul Mujahideen by facilitating smuggling of narcotics and raising funds for the terrorist outfit, officials said. This network, as per the investigations, have emerged as a major channel for terror financing in the region.
Several of these individuals involved have amassed significant wealth through drug proceeds, despite having negligible legitimate sources of income, officials said.
Accused individuals were allegedly key dealers responsible for distributing narcotics among local youth, officials said. Some reportedly employed the other accused for selling narcotics to their clients, they added.
The investigation points to a larger conspiracy spearheaded by Pakistan-sponsored Hizb-ul-Mujahideen to destabilise the peaceful atmosphere of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir by facilitating terrorist activities. Further investigation is going on to identify and apprehend additional individuals involved in the network.
The Pakistan-based terrorists named in the chargesheet are Hizb-ul-Mujahideen head Syed Mohammad Yusuf Shah alias Syed Salahudeen, son of Ghulam Rasool Shah, a resident of Bonapora, Soibugh, Budgam district, and Basharat Ahmad Bhat, son of Ghulam Ahmad Bhat and a resident of Chowdhry Bagh, Kremshore, Khan Sahib, Budgam. The latter also owed allegiance to Hizbul Mujahideen, the SIA said.
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One of the accused, Khalid Hussain, a resident of Ujhan Margan of Rajouri district’s Darhal area, is currently living in Jammu’s Rehmat Colony of Channi Himmat area.
The chargesheet also named Harpreet Singh, a resident of Nanak Nagar, Jammu; Mohd. Shokit from Phambranar Gursai, Mendhar in Poonch district; Javid Ahmed Rather, a resident of Thokarpura, Budgam; Manzoor Ahmad, a resident of Pamposh Colony, Palpora, Tehsil Eidgah in Srinagar district; Chain Singh from Chak Chua, Bishnah, Sahil Kumar from New Rehari, Jammu; Asif Rehman Reshi from Banapora, Batmaloo, Srinagar, and Sandeepak Singh from Green Avenue Lane, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu.
