J&K, 3 other States were on radar
Funds routed from Pak via Dubai
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 2: The National Investigating Agency (NIA) has come across a major terror funding network , which was being operated from Lahore Headquarters of Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafeez Saeed in Pakistan, which was supplying funds not only in Jammu and Kashmir but was also gradually covering Rajasthan, Gujarat and Mumbai in Maharashtra. Terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) is also an offshoot of JuD.
“It has been observed that terror funds were not being recruited directly through Pakistan to avoid monitoring by Indian Intelligence agencies but were being routed via Dubai through wide networks of JuD operatives, who had specifically been stationed at selected places for the purpose,” sources told the Excelsior.
Sources said Hafiz Saeed and Shahid Mehmood were running the terror funding network in Pakistan while their close associate and Pakistani national Mohammad Kamran was specifically stationed at Dubai for the purpose of coordinating the funding activities. An Indian, Mohammad Salman was Incharge of the network in the country, who was absconding. He had managed to recruit some operatives in four States of the country to spread his network and pump the money for terror activities.
According to sources, there is a direct Pakistan link that has emerged. Jamat-ud-Dawa has several centers in Pakistan and their headquarters are in Lahore though majority of them earlier used to operate openly but, of late, due to international pressure, most of them were now indulging in clandestine operations. However, the operations for India are managed from Dubai. JuD and its sister groups are proscribed organizations in view of direct involvement of Hafiz Saeed with them. Hafiz has been designated as global terrorist by the United States. Deadly Lashkar-e-Toiba militant outfit, which was involved in major subversive activities in Kashmir, is also an offshoot of Jamat-ud-Dawa.
Initially, sources said, the terror funding activities of these organizations were confined to Jammu and Kashmir only and the funds coming from Dubai were used to recruit youth as militants and stone pelters followed by giving some money to the families of militants, who were killed in the encounters. Lately, they pointed out, they have started spreading their activities in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Mumbai, which was a new phenomenon as these States/Cities were untouched by the militancy.
“The NIA and other Intelligence agencies have detected that the funds had been diverted from Pakistan to Dubai and then New Delhi. From New Delhi, majority of funds go to Jammu and Kashmir, mainly the Valley, while part of funds was now being diverted to Rajasthan, Gujarat and Mumbai,” sources said, adding that Intelligence agencies have taken adequate steps to choke the terror funding.
Sources disclosed that an Advisory has been issued to the concerned States to keep strict vigil on flow of terror funds as they could be used to spread terror activities not only in Jammu and Kashmir but other parts of the country as well.
The NIA has registered FIR No: Regular Case RC-20/2018/NIA/DLI under Sections IPC: 120B and 121 UA(P) Act, 1967 and Sections 17, 18, 21, 38 and 40 in connection with terror funding and started further investigations.
Sources said the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had directed the NIA to take up the investigation of the case against Delhi based individual Mohammad Salman, who was in regular touch with one Dubai based Pakistani national Mohammad Kamran, who in turn is connected with Shahid Mehmood, a Pakistani, affiliated with LeT outfit and Jamat-ud-Dawa.
Mohammad Salman has been receiving funds from outside the country sent by JuD operative Mohammad Kamran and his associates through hawala operators. Mohammad Salman has connections with persons in various countries including Pakistan, UAE, Canada, Sweden, Croatia etc.
NIA got some actionable input that money was coming into India from Dubai for “charitable purposes”. Sources said the input also came in from other sources. NIA busted a terror funding module in New Delhi. NIA also arrested three persons after carrying out searches at multiple places in Daryaganj, Nizamuddin and Kucha Ghasiram areas in New Delhi.
On September 25, the NIA conducted searches at some places in New Delhi. During the raids, the NIA also seized cash worth Rs 1.56 crore. The NIA also recovered Rs 43,000 in Nepali currency, 14 mobile phones, 5 pen drives and several incriminating documents.
Sources said the NIA was hunting terror funding operatives across the country especially in four identified States to ensure that the funds didn’t manage to reach to the militants and their sympathizers to spread terror activities in the country.
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