*No conviction in Hawala cases due to ‘shoddy’ probe
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 22: In what could be testimony of Pakistan’s continuous efforts to cause large scale bloodshed in Jammu and Kashmir, the security forces have seized gigantic quantity of arms and ammunition during the past five years, which are sufficient enough to fully equip one or two battalions of the armed forces for a large-scale battle.
Besides, providing arms and ammunition to the terrorists for waging anti-India war in this border State, Pakistan also made numerous attempts to finance terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir as 57 Hawala cases were registered during this period. However, no case culminated in conviction of the accused because of varied reasons including shoddy investigations.
These revelations have been made in an official document of State Home Department, which is in the possession of EXCELSIOR.
Generally, a Battalion is comprised of 1100 personnel but all are not equipped with arms and ammunition because of different nature of work. However, security forces have recovered 1125 AK-47/56/74 Rifles during the past five years (2009-2013), which are sufficient enough to equip each and every personnel of one battalion.
However, the recovery of other weapons like Pistols/Revolvers, UMGs, Carbines, RPG, LMG/SLR and Sniper Rifles and ammunition is plenty enough even to adequately equip one more battalion of the armed forces.
According to the document, security forces recovered 869 Pistols/Revolvers, 201 RPGs, 43 .303 Rifles, 12 Sniper Rifles and 82 rocket boosters besides 16 UMGs/Carbines and 11 LMG/SLRs. Moreover, 3649 magazines of AK47/56/74 Rifles and 935 magazines of Pistol/Revolver were recovered during the period.
As far as ammunition is concerned, security forces recovered 1.81 lakh rounds of AK 47/56/74 Rifles, 8937 rounds of Pistol/Revolver, 656 of UMG, 670 of Sniper Rifle, 754 of .303 Rifle, the document said.
During this period, the security forces recovered 607.7 kilograms of RDX, 925.45 kilograms of other explosives, 262 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), 3249 grenades/hand-grenades, 366 electronic detonators, 3577 normal detonators, 91 AP mines, 25 AT mines, 127 rockets, 509 wireless sets, 727 metres Cordex and 77 Binoculars.
Though maximum recoveries of arms and ammunition besides explosive material were made in 2009 and 2010 yet the data clearly indicates that there was no let up in Pakistan sponsored terrorists’ activities as huge recoveries were made even in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
“Had the recovery of such a huge quantity of arms, ammunition and explosive material not been made by the security forces the Pakistan sponsored terrorists would have been able to carry out blood-shed on large scale in Jammu and Kashmir”, official sources commented, adding “though the huge recoveries indicate that security forces have been able to neutralize or eliminate the terrorists yet there is no room for complacency as Pakistan sponsored terrorists are still active in various parts of the State and would try to carry out their nefarious activities particularly during the elections”.
According to the document, 57 attempts to finance terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir were also foiled during the past five years. However, none of the case culminated in conviction of Hawala operators because of varied reasons including shoddy investigation.
Of these 57 Hawala cases, 22 were registered in 2009, 8 in 2010, 14 in 2011, 9 in 2012 and 4 in 2013. However, only 21 cases were challaned—-16 in 2009, 3 in 2010, 1 in 2011 and 1 in 2013. There was no conviction during these five years. At present, 36 cases are under investigation.
“Efforts should be made to ensure proper investigation into the Hawala cases as the same may help in breaking the nexus operating for funding the terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir”, official sources stressed.
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