ED registers case against Hizbul chief, 9 others

The central probe agency, sources said, will look into the financing and terrorist activity allegedly carried out by the Hizbul Mujahideen from Pakistan to different militant organisations in India. Those named in the chargesheet include Salahuddin, his deputy Gulam Nabi Khan, Umer Farooq Shera, Manzoor Ahmed Dar, Zaffar Hussain Bhat, Nazir Ahamd Dar, Abdul Majeed Sofi and Mubarak Shah, sources said. Besides them, Talib Ali and Mohammad Shafi Shah were charged under various provisions of the Prevention of Unlawful Activities Act in the NIA chargesheet. The ED case is incidentally the first regular money laundering case to probe offshore terror financing ramifications, sources said.

In their probe, the NIA claimed to have unearthed at least Rs 13 crore, allegedly pumped through cross-LoC trade, cash couriers and normal banking channels besides the routine hawala route.

Investigations have established that, under the cover of the Jammu and Kashmir Affectees Relief Trust, Hizbul Mujahideen operatives based in Pakistan provided funds for terror activity in India.

During the investigation, two of the accused, Mohd Shafi Shah and Talib Lali, were arrested by the NIA.