Jammu and Kashmir Police’s State Investigation Agency (SIA) Kashmir today filed a chargesheet in a major narco-terror case before the Court of Special Judge (Designated under NIA Act), Srinagar, against seven suspects, including a Pakistan-based terrorist handler.
The case, registered earlier this year at police station Parimpora, now being investigated by SIA- Kashmir, pertains to a narco-terror module allegedly operated by Mushtaq Ahmad Khan alias Khalid Bhai, a key operative of the Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM) based in Pakistan.
The chargesheet has been filed under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, read with Section 61(2) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and Sections 8, 21, and 29 of the NDPS Act.
The accused named in the chargesheet include Anas Aijaz, Zahid Ahmad Sheikh, Tanzeer Ahmad Najar, Bilal Shabir Awan (absconding), Mushtaq Ahmad Khan (operating from Pakistan)- all residents of Kupwara district, Basit Ashraf Malik, and Arsalan Mushtaq Bangri residents of Srinagar.
According to police, the case was registered on January 6 this year after security forces recovered over 9 kg of heroin from a vehicle during checking near Parimpora, Srinagar. The vehicle was driven by Anas Aijaz and accompanied by Zahid Ahmad Sheikh, both residents of Karnah, Kupwara.
The investigation by SIA later uncovered a larger transnational narcotics and terror financing network aimed at funding terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir through proceeds from drug trafficking.
“SIA successfully busted a broader transnational narcotics-terror financing network involved in trafficking narcotics to generate funds for sustaining terrorism,” police said.
Officials said the filing of the chargesheet marks a significant step towards dismantling narco-terror modules operated by Pakistan-based handlers seeking to finance militant activities in the Valley.
