SRINAGAR: The National Investigation Agency on Friday filed a chargesheet against three accused persons in a case related to cross-border trade and militancy funding.
According to a statement, a chargesheet was filed under sections 120B of IPC and sections 17, 20, 21, 39 and 40 of UA(P) Act against Tanveer Ahmad Wani of Pulwama, Peer Arshad and Bashir Ahmad Sofi-both residents of Baramulla.
The statement reads the case pertains to profiteering and generation of funds through cross-LoC trade between J&K and PoK and using those funds to promote militant activities in Jammu & Kashmir.
“Cross-LoC trade was launched in 2008 via two Trade Facilitation Centres (TFCs) located at Salamabad, Uri in Baramulla and Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch. As per the SOP of the trade mechanism put in place, 21 articles were allowed to be imported from PoK and exported from J&K. It was based on a barter system and no transaction of money was involved,” it reads.
It reads after scrutinising several documents, it has come to notice that extraordinary profits were generated by excess import and under-invoicing of imported almonds by the traders.
“It has also been found that some of the cross-LoC traders of PoK are crossed-over militants and were backed by Hizb-Ul-Muzahideen (HM). The trade was suspended in April 2019.”
It added investigation revealed that accused persons Tanveer Ahmad Wani & Peer Arshad Iqbal were Cross-LoC traders and were handling several Cross-LoC trade firms, registered in the names of themselves and their friends, relatives, employees etc.
“Both raised militant funds by excess import than the export and by under-invoicing of imported Almonds from PoK-based cross LoC traders. The investigation has established that both accused were also in a trading relationship with PoK-based cross-border Hizb-Ul-Muzahideen militants.”
It further reads after raising the militant funds, accused Tanveer Ahmad Wani had provided funds in cash to different militants of HM, JeM (Jaish-e-Mohammad) etc.
“Accused Peer Arshad Iqbal used to provide funds to accused Bashir Ahmad Sofi, an ex-militant of HM. Further investigations in the case are in progress,” it reads. (KNO)
