The Jammu and Kashmir State Investigation Agency (SIA) has filed a chargesheet against 11 individuals, including Pakistan-based Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) chief Syed Salahuddin, in a cross-border narco-terrorism case, exposing a major terror financing network. The chargesheet, filed in connection with FIR No. 10/2022 at Police Station SIA Jammu, reveals a well-organized nexus that allegedly aids the Pakistan-based HM through narcotics smuggling and illicit financial channels.
The investigation uncovered a systematic operation where narcotics were smuggled from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir, and the proceeds were used to fund terrorist activities. These funds were then allegedly funneled into accounts operated by terror associates, under the direct instructions of Pakistan-based operatives. The network has emerged as a major channel for terror financing in the region.
According to the SIA, the case is part of a larger conspiracy orchestrated by Pakistan-sponsored elements to destabilize peace in Jammu and Kashmir by using drug trafficking to fund militancy. The investigation revealed that several accused individuals amassed significant wealth through drug proceeds, despite having negligible legitimate sources of income. Some were allegedly responsible for distributing narcotics among local youth, either directly or through intermediaries, with the aim of destabilizing the region and funding terrorism.
The chargesheet names 11 accused, including two Pakistan-based terrorists:
The investigation revealed a systematic modus operandi where narcotics were smuggled from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir. The proceeds from the sale of these drugs were deposited into the account of one of the accused, on the instructions of Basharat Ahmad Bhat, a Pakistan-based terrorist. Some of the accused were responsible for distributing narcotics among local youths, while others employed other accused to sell narcotics to their clientele.
In a separate case, the SIA filed a chargesheet in a narco-terror case involving the seizure of 46 kg of heroin in Jammu and Punjab, exposing the role of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The case originated with the arrest of Sartaj Singh, a resident of Punjab, with over 33 kg of heroin in Jammu. The investigation revealed that Amritpal Singh, another accused, had links to a Pakistan-based handler affiliated with LeT, establishing a direct narco-terrorism linkage.
The SIA has asserted its commitment to dismantling terror-financing ecosystems and preserving peace and stability in Jammu and Kashmir. Further investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other individuals involved in these networks. These cases highlight the continued threat posed by transnational criminal-terrorist syndicates exploiting drug trafficking routes to fund and support terror activities in the region and beyond.
