The J&K police’s State Investigation Agency (SIA) has filed a chargesheet against 11 accused including Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salah-ud-Din in connection with cross border narco terror case.
The FIR, initially lodged in 2022, pertains to a cross-border narco-terrorism and terror financing network involving Pakistan-based terrorist organizations and their networks operating in J&K,” an SIA spokesperson said.
“The investigation in the case uncovered a well-organized network of terrorist associates and couriers aiding terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) by facilitating smuggling of narcotics and raising funds for HM. This network has emerged as a major channel for terror financing in the region. Several of these individuals involved have amassed significant wealth through drug proceeds, despite having negligible legitimate sources of income,” he said.
The spokesperson said chargesheet named 11 persons including Hizb chief Syed Salah-ud-Din and nother Pak based terrorist for raising funds through smuggling and selling of narcotics .
“The investigation revealed a systematic modus operandi wherein narcotics were smuggled from Pakistan into the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The proceeds from the sale of these drugs were deposited in the account of one the accused on the instructions of a Pakistan based terrorist Basharat Ahmad Bhat, a known Hizb terrorist operating from Pakistan,” the SIA spokesperson said.
The accused individuals were allegedly key drug dealers responsible for distributing narcotics among local youth, he said. “Some reportedly employed the other accused for selling narcotics to their clientele.”
The investigation points to a larger conspiracy spearheaded by Pakistan-sponsored Hizb-ul-Mujahideen to destabilize the peaceful atmosphere of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir by facilitating terrorist activities . Further investigation is going on to identify and apprehend additional individuals involved in the network,” the spokesperson said.
“This chargesheet reflects SIA’s firm commitment to dismantling terror-financing ecosystems and preserving peace and stability in Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.