Terror recruitment module busted
SRINAGAR: A terror funding and recruitment module was busted in Kupwara district of J&K with the arrest of six persons, police said on Thursday.
Kupwara SSP Yougal Manhas termed the bust a major success against the perpetrators of terrorism in the Valley.
“Kupwara police along with army’s 21 RR and 47 RR busted a deep-rooted terror funding and recruitment module running in north Kashmir,” he said.
He said after receiving multiple inputs regarding Bilal Ahmed Dar of Cheerkote area of the district, a joint operation was launched to nab him. After thorough interrogation, Dar revealed that he, along with five other people, were running a terror funding racket under the garb of a fake NGO called ‘Islahi Falahi Relief Trust’, which claimed to provide monetary assistance to poor and needy families, Manhas said.
“He (Dar) was actively involved in coordinating the funding for terror activities and aiding recruitment by organising secret meetings in different villages where they would try and lure young people into terror activities,” he added.
The SSP said on Dar’s disclosure, five other persons were also arrested.
He identified them as Wahid Ahmed Bhat, Javed Ahmed Najar, Mushtaq Ahmed Najar, Bashir Ahmed Mir and Zubair Ahmed Dar.
The module was being coordinated by Pakistan-based handlers to aid the operations of Tehreek-e-ul Mujhahideen Jammu and Kashmir (TuMJK) in north Kashmir, the SSP said.
The modus operandi of the group was to go to different villages and conduct events and gatherings under the garb of the NGO and would collect money by asking for charity and also scout for potential soft targets as recruits, he said.
Manhas said the group was receiving instructions from across the border from Ghulam Rasool Shah alias Dr Shah alias Manzoor Shah alias Gen Abdullah, who is a Pakistan-based terrorist handler, Mohammad Sultan Peer, alias Tariq Peer, alias Yousaf Baloch, alias Osama, alias Qureshi, of Sulkoot Kupwara -- also a Pakistan-based terrorist handler, and one person Mushtaq, alias Hamza.
A huge quantity of arms, ammunition, raw material to prepare IED and incriminating material including five pistols, 10 magazines, 49 pistol ammunition, and two grenades, were recovered from them, the SSP said.
A case under various sections of Arms Act, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act has been registered against all the individuals for further investigation, Manhas said.