The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today said it had filed a prosecution complaint against 12 Hizbul Mujahideen militants under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before a special judge at the Patiala House Court here in connection with a terror funding case.

Officials said in the complaint the ED had named Mohammad Shafi Shah, Talib Lali, Mohammad Yusuf Shah, Gulam Nabi Khan, Umer Farooq Shera, Manzoor Ahmed Dar, Zaffar Hussain Bhat, Nazir Ahmad Dar, Abdul Majeed Sofi, Mubarak Shah, Muzaffar Ahmad Dar and Mushtaq Ahmad Lone.

“The prosecution complaint has been filed with a prayer for awarding punishment to all of the accused for the commission of offence under the PMLA and for confiscation of the attached properties totalling Rs 1.22 crore, which have been provisionally attached,” an ED official said.

The financial prosecution agency initiated investigation under the PMLA based on an NIA FIR and chargesheet filed by the anti-terror probe agency against the 12 accused under various sections of the IPC and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Mohammad Shafi Shah and his associates were involved in execution of sensational blasts in Jammu and Kashmir and a huge quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives was recovered from them, the ED said in its submission in the court.

“Investigations under the PMLA revealed that the Hizbul Mujahideen, the most active terror outfit in Kashmir, has been responsible for funding terrorist and secessionist activities in the Valley, headed by Syed Salahuddin, its self-styled commander based at Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The funding of terrorism activities on Indian soil had been organised by a trust called JKART (Jammu & Kashmir Affectees Relief Trust) which was operating in connivance with the Government of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and ISI,” the ED said in its prosecution complaint.

It was also revealed that the terror funds were sent to India through the hawala channel, barter trade and human carriers, the agency said, adding that the funds were further distributed through such illegal channels to next of kin of active as well as dead Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, the ED said, adding that after the identification of proceeds of crime involved in money laundering, 13 properties, belonging to seven terrorists, totalling Rs 1.22 crore, were attached under the PMLA.

Daily Tribune:  26nd August, 2020