SIA arrests Sarjan Barkati for fundraising, radicalizing Kashmiri youth
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EMAAD MAKHDOOMI
SRINAGAR: State Investigation Agency (SIA) Kashmir on Tuesday arrested Sarjan Ahmad Wagay alias Barkati, for his involvement in orchestrating an extensive fund-raising campaign through crowd funding, resulting in the generation of funds amounting to crores.
These funds were subsequently misused, involving money laundering and acquisition of undisclosed assets for propagation of radicalism within the Kashmir valley, sources said.
Sarjan had been booked under FIR No 02/2023 at Police Station SIA.
Barkati, also known as “Azadi Chacha,” gained prominence in 2016 following the neutralization of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani by security forces. Barkati was a central figure in orchestrating large-scale protests, rallies, and clashes with security forces in 2016, for which more than 30 FIRs were registered against him in various police stations of the valley.
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SIA Kashmir has revealed that Barkati managed to raise approximately Rs 1.74 crores through crowd funding campaigns. These funds were ostensibly raised for personal gains and a significant portion of the collected funds was allegedly misused for undisclosed purposes, including financing of secessionist and terrorist activities.
During investigation SIA Kashmir has found that Barkati had not only exploited public sentiment and trust for personal financial gains but also potentially laundered funds from unidentified sources, having links with terrorist organizations.
Furthermore, a substantial portion of the acquired funds had been deposited in various Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDRs) under the names of Barkati’s close family members, raising questions about the legitimacy of the sources and utilization of the funds.
While talking to STATE TIMES exclusively, a senior official of SIA Kashmir on condition of anonymity said, ” In 2016, following Burhan Wani’s elimination, Sarjan Barkati played an important role and encouraged young boys to attack the camps of Indian security forces during protests and strikes.” He said “Sarjan Barkati offered young boys of Kashmir a pipe dream and filled their minds with hate in the garb of vindication. He made an all out effort to portray terrorists as role models for young Kashmiri boys while he kept accumulating wealth, properties and assets for his own children through illegal means.”
