Jammu and Kashmir police on Thursday claimed to have busted a militant fund and recruitment module in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
In a statement, Kupwara Police along with Army’s 21 RR and 47 RR busted a militancy funding and recruitment module running in North Kashmir.
The statement reads that after receiving multiple inputs regarding an individual namely Bilal Ahmed Dar hailing from Cheerkote area of Kupwara district, a joint operation was launched by the Army and Kupwara police to nab the individual from general area Nutnussa and Lolab localities of Kupwara.
“After thorough interrogation, the individual revealed that he along with five other people from different parts of North Kashmir were running a terror funding racket under the garb of a fake NGO called Islahi Falahi Relief Trust (IFRT) which claimed to provide monetary assistance to poor and needy families,” it reads.
It reads that he was actively involved in coordinating the funding for terror activities and aiding recruitment by organizing Ijtema meetings in different villages, where he along with other members of the NGO would try and lure young people into Anti-National activities.
“Bilal also revealed the names of other accomplices including Wahid Ahmed Bhat from Kachloo, Langet, and Javed Ahmed Najar from Singhpora, Baramulla and three individuals namely Mushtaq Ahmed Najar of Brath Sopore, Bashir Ahmed Mir of Mundji Sopore and Zubair Ahmed Dar of Cheerkote, who is Bilal’s cousin, were also actively involved in the module.”
It added that the module was being coordinated by Pakistan based handlers to aid the operations of Tehreek-e-ul Mujhahideen Jammu & Kashmir (TuMJK) in North Kashmir.
“The modus operandi of the group was to go to different villages and conduct events and gatherings under the garb of the NGO and would collect money by asking for charity and also scout for potential soft targets as recruits.”
It further reads that the accounts in the NGO’s name were being used to launder money for the TuMJK. “The group was also responsible for sticking Anti-national posters around 15th of August and during the visit of the Union Home Minister to Baramullah.”
It reads that Bilal specifically also admitted to hoisting a Pakistani flag inside Markazi Jamia Masjid Kupwara on the 14th of August on the instructions of his Pakistani handlers.
“The group was also actively collecting Explosive materials which is known to be used in IED’s. Bilal and his associates were receiving instructions from across the border from Dr Shah Sab@ Manzoor Shah @ Gen Abdullah actually named as Ghulam Rasool Shah of Hyhama Kupwara, who is a Pakistan based militant handler, Tariq Peer actually named Mohd Sultan Peer of Sulkoot Kupwara also a Pakistan based militant handler Yousaf Baloch one Hamza.”
It further reads that Wahid was the mastermind behind the recruitment and funding module. “A huge quantity of arms, ammunition, raw material to prepare IED and incriminating material has also been recovered from all the apprehended individuals.”
It added that a case FIR NO: 264/22 under sections 7/25 Arms Act, 13,18,20,38 UA(P) Act has been registered against all the individuals in Police Station Kupwara for further investigation was going on.
