A major success has been achieved in dismantling the terror funding and logistical support system in Jammu and Kashmir. Under the NIA Act, a special court in Srinagar has framed charges against two accused individuals in a high-profile terror funding case (FIR number 02/2024, Police Station Counter Intelligence Kashmir - CIK) under sections 13, 38, 39, 40 of UAPA and 120-B of IPC.
The two individuals charged are Shabir Ahmad Bhat, son of Ghulam Mohammed Bhat, resident of Khadermo, Kakapora, and Javed Ahmad Yatoo, son of Abdul Majeed, resident of Patalbagh, Pampore. Criminal proceedings have also been initiated against Sumama alias Babar alias Ilyas, a fugitive handler of Lashkar-e-Taiba based in Pakistan.
Investigations uncovered an international conspiracy wherein terror funding was being channeled into Jammu and Kashmir through terror commanders in Pakistan, Pakistani nationals in Gulf countries, and other foreign networks. These funds were transferred under the guise of pilgrims, migrants, and traders through a hawala network.
Shabir Ahmad Bhat, who traveled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, gathered a substantial amount of Saudi Riyals from Lashkar contacts and, following instructions, facilitated the delivery of the money to other Kashmiri pilgrims. Upon returning to India, he converted this foreign currency into Indian Rupees and distributed it to terrorists and their families.
Javed Ahmad Yatoo played a key role as a liaison between Shabir and the Pakistan-based handler. Additionally, Mohammad Ayub Bhat (resident of Kothipora Chattergam, Budgam) and Mohammad Rafiq Shah (resident of HIG Colony, Green Park, Srinagar) have also been recently arrested. Electronic devices, bank statements, and documents related to hawala transactions were seized from them, confirming the existence of a deep-rooted clandestine financial network.
CIK reiterated, in collaboration with the Jammu & Kashmir Police, its ongoing commitment to dismantling every individual and network financially supporting terrorism.
