HM chief Syed Salahuddin among those charge sheeted
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 5: The State Investigation Agency (SIA) has filed a charge sheet against 11 individuals in a cross-border narco-terrorism case that exposed a major funding route for the proscribed terror outfit, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM).
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Among those charge sheeted are HM chief Syed Salahuddin and another terrorist of the outfit, Basharat Ahmad Bhat, who is currently based in Pakistan.
As per a statement issued by the SIA, the case, registered in 2022 at Police Station SIA Jammu, revealed a network involved in smuggling narcotics from Pakistan and using the proceeds to finance terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The investigations in the case uncovered a well-organised syndicate working at the behest of Pakistan-based Hizb-ul-Mujahideen operatives,” it said.
The statement further said this group used drug money to support terror activities, with local couriers and handlers distributing narcotics and depositing funds on the instructions of handlers across the border.
The accused, as per the statement, included Khalid Hussain of Ujhan Margan, tehsil Darhal, district Rajouri, at present Rehmat Colony, Channi Himmat Jammu; Harpreet Singh of Sector 3, Nanak Nagar Jammu; Mohammad Shokit of village Phambranar Gursai, tehsil Mendhar, district Poonch; Javid Ahmed Rather of Thokarpura, Budgam; Manzoor Ahmad of Pamposh Colony, Palpora, tehsil Eidgah, district Srinagar; Chain Singh of Chak Chua, Bishnah; Sahil Kumar of New Rehari, Jammu; Asif Rehman Reshi of Banapora, Batmaloo, and Sandeepak Singh of Green Avenue Lane, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu.
Two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen operatives, including the HM chief Syed Mohammad Yusuf Shah alias Syed Salahuddin of Banapora, Soibugh, district Budgam, and Basharat Ahmad of Chowdhry Bagh, Kremshore, Khansahib, Budgam, who are currently based in Pakistan, have also been named in the charge sheet.
The statement added that many of the accused, despite having no known legitimate income, had acquired substantial assets, pointing to drug money as the main source.
The investigating agency said the accused acted as drug couriers and facilitators, pushing narcotics into local markets and channelling the money back to terror handlers by depositing it in the account of one of the accused persons.
Some also recruited others into the network to expand their distribution chain, it said.
“The case reflected a larger conspiracy to destabilise Jammu and Kashmir by fuelling militancy through drug money,” an SIA official said.
He confirmed that investigations are ongoing to identify more individuals linked to the racket.
Meanwhile, the agency has reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling terror finance networks and ensuring security in the region.
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