NEW DELHI The Enforcement Directorate Tuesday said it has attached 13 assets located in Jammu and Kashmir in a alleged ‘terror financing case’ against Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin.
The central probe agency issued a provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to attach the properties worth Rs 1.22 crore, which it said belonged to one Mohammad Shafi Shah, a resident of Bandipora, and six other residents of the state who allegedly worked for the militant outfit.
The ED said it filed a criminal case of money laundering in this instance after taking cognisance of a charge sheet filed against Salahuddin, Shah and others under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Action (UAPA).
“Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, the most active militant outfit in Kashmir, has been responsible for funding militant and secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Headed by Syed Salahuddin, it funds militancy on Indian soil through monies organised by a trust called JKART (Jammu and Kashmir Affectees Relief Trust) in alleged connivance with ISI and other Pakistan-based entities,” the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said in a statement.
It said the probe found that “terror funds” were being sent to India through the hawala — illegal way of routing money by skirting banking channels, barter trade and human carriers.
“The funds are illegally distributed to the next of kin of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, active and dead,” it said.
The US government had in August, 2017 designated Hizbul Mujahideen as ‘foreign terrorist organisation’.
Besides heading Hizbul Mujahideen, Salahuddin is the chairman of the United Jehad Council (UJC), a conglomerate of terrorist outfits operating in the Kashmir Valley.
The NIA had arrested Salahuddin’s son Syed Shahid Yousuf in this case in 2017 and the J-K government had later suspended him from service as he was working in the state agriculture department.
Shah and three others are lodged in the Tihar jail in the national capital in connection with this terror funding case, the ED said. (PTI)
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
