“Trading relationships with PoK-based Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists”: NIA files Chargesheet against three in Terror Funding Case
The case pertains to profiteering and raising funds through trade between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) via the Line of Control (LoC), and then using those funds to promote terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on December 23, 2022, filed chargesheet against three accused persons in a cross-border (Line of Control) LoC trade and terror funding case.
The three accused chargesheeted persons are:
- Tanveer Ahmad Wani
- Peer Arshad Iqbal@ Ashu
- Bashir Ahmad Sofi
All three have been chargesheeted under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC and Sections 17 (Punishment for raising funds for a terrorist act), 20 (Punishment for being a member of a terrorist gang or organization), 21 (Punishment for holding proceeds of terrorism), 39 (Offence relating to support given to a terrorist organization) and 40 (Offence of raising fund for a terrorist organization) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The case pertains to profiteering and raising funds through trade between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) via the Line of Control (LoC), and then using those funds to promote terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Cross-LoC trade was launched in 2008 via two Trade Facilitation Centres (TFCs) located at Salamabad, Uri in the Baramulla district of Kashmir and Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch of Jammu region. As per the SOP of the trade mechanism put in place, 21 articles were allowed to be imported from PoK and exported from J&K. It was based on a barter system and no transaction of money was involved.
"After scrutinizing several documents, it has come to notice that extraordinary profits were generated by excess import and under-invoicing of imported almonds by the traders. It has also been found that some of the cross-LoC traders of PoK are crossed-over terrorists and were backed by the terrorist outfit, Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen (HM). The trade was suspended in April 2019”, the NIA press release stated.
As per the agency’s press release, the investigations have revealed that the accused Wani and Iqbal were cross-LoC traders and were handling several trade firms registered in the names of themselves, their friends, relatives, and employees. Both of them raised terror funds by excess import than export and by under-invoicing of imported Almonds from PoK-based cross LoC traders.
Furthermore, it was stated that the accused duo, were also in a trading relationship with PoK-based cross-border Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists. After raising the terror funds, Wani provided funds in cash to different terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and others. Accused Iqbal used to provide funds to Sofi, a former militant of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).
As per the NIA press release, the case was registered suo-moto on December 16, 2022.