NIA arrests HM chief’s son in Srinagar for terror funding

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested Syed Ahmad Shakeel, son of banned terror group Hizbul Mujahideen’s chief Syed Salahuddin, in a case relating to terror funding in Jammu & Kashmir through hawala channel. The NIA, in a joint operation with J&K Police and CRPF, arrested Shakeel, 48, from his residence in Ram Bagh area of Srinagar.

The arrest relates to case RC-06/2011/NIA/DLI (Funding of terror in J&K through hawala channels) registered in 2011 in which seven persons have been chargesheeted till now.

The case alleges transfer of funds through hawala channels by the terrorists based in Pakistan to Jammu & Kashmir in a criminal conspiracy with some operatives of the Hizbul Mujahideen in India to fund and fuel secessionist and terrorist activities in the State.

The NIA probe had revealed that Shakeel was allegedly involved in raising, receiving and collecting funds from the terrorist organisation through its active cadres from Saudi Arabia. He had received money through Western Union several times which were sent by absconding chargesheeted accused Aijaz Ahmad Bhat, alias Aijaz Maqbool Bhat.

Shakeel has been working as a laboratory assistant in Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS). Investigation revealed that he had also received funds from various countries from the operatives of Hizbul Mujahideen. 

“Shakeel was summoned by the NIA for questioning but he did not appear before the agency. A non-bailable warrant (NBW) was earlier issued by Special NIA court here, Patiala House, New Delhi. He is being brought to Delhi. He would be produced before the NIA Special Court for seeking his police custody for custodial interrogation,” the NIA said in a statement.

In this case, Ghulam Mohammed Bhat alias Abdul Rehman and three others were chargesheeted in 2011. In October 2017, accused Syed Shahid Yusuf, another son of accused Syed Salahuddin was arrested by NIA for allegedly receiving funds from Hizbul-Mujaheedin from abroad and was chargesheeted earlier this year. Till now, three accused persons Md Sidiq Ganai, Ghulam Jeelani Liloo and Farooq Ahmed Dagga have been convicted after they pleaded guilty.