Hizbul supremo among 11 chargesheeted in cross-border narco-terror case

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir State Investigation Agency (SIA) on Saturday filed a charge-sheet against 11 persons, including two Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorists, accused of operating a narco-terror financing module in the Union Territory, an official said.
“The chargesheet was filed in connection with a case registered at Police Station SIA Jammu. The FIR, initially lodged in the year 2022, pertains to cross-border narco-terrorism and terror financing network involving Pakistan-based terrorist organizations and their networks operating in J&K,” the official added.
“The investigation in the case uncovered a well-organized network of terrorist associates and couriers aiding terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) by facilitating smuggling of narcotics and raising funds for HM,” the official said adding that 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,” the official said.
“The charge-sheet was filed against accused operating under a well organised terror network for raising funds through smuggling and selling of narcotics namely Khalid Hussain, son of Anwar Hussain, resident of Ujhan Margan, Tehsil Darhal, District Rajouri, currently residing at Rehmat Colony, Channi Himmat, Jammu; Harpreet Singh, son of Kamaljeet Singh, resident of House No. 619/F, Sector 3, Nanak Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu; Mohd. Shokit, son of Mohd. Latief, resident of Village Phambranar Gursai, Mendhar, Poonch; Javid Ahmed Rather, son of Abdul Rehman Rather, resident of Thokarpura, Budgam; Manzoor Ahmad, son of Noor Mohammad, resident of Pamposh Colony, Palpora, Tehsil Eidgah, District Srinagar; Chain Singh, son of Late Angrez Singh, resident of Chak Chua, Bishnah; Sahil Kumar, son of Sudesh Kumar, resident of H. No. 21-A, New Rehari, Jammu; Asif Rehman Reshi, son of Abdul Rehman Reshi, resident of Banapora, Batmaloo, Srinagar; Sandeepak Singh, son of Raj Singh, resident of Green Avenue Lane, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu; Basharat Ahmad Bhat, son of Ghulam Ahmad Bhat, resident of Chowdhry Bagh, Kremshore, Khan Sahib, Budgam – Presently based in Rawalpindi, Pakistan; identified as a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorist; and Syed Mohammad Yusuf Shah alias Syed Salahudeen, son of Ghulam Rasool Shah, resident of Bonapora, Soibugh, District Budgam – Head of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen,” official said.
The SIA official said, “The investigation revealed a systematic modus operandi wherein narcotics were smuggled from Pakistan into the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The proceeds from the sale of these drugs were deposited in the account of one the the accused, on the instructions of a Pakistan based terrorist Basharat Ahmad Bhat, a known Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorist operating from Pakistan.”
Accused individuals were allegedly key drug dealers responsible for distributing narcotics among local youth, the official said adding that some reportedly employed the other accused for selling narcotics to their clientele.
The investigation points to a larger conspiracy spearheaded by Pakistan-sponsored Hizb-ul-Mujahideen to destabilize the peaceful atmosphere of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir by facilitating terrorist activities”, the officials said adding that further investigation is going on to identify and apprehend additional individuals involved in the network.
This chargesheet reflects SIA’s firm commitment to dismantling terror-financing ecosystems and preserving peace and stability in Jammu and Kashmir”, the official said.