31 properties of separatists in J&K could be attached

NEWDELHI: As many as 31 properties worth over crores belonging to separatists leaders of Jammu and Kashmir have been “identified” for attachment as “proceeds of crime by enforcement agencies, a senior MHA official who did not want to be identified said.

The properties earmarked for attachment include the Islamabad house of Hizbul Mujahideen chief Sayed Salahuddin.

He is already a designated as terrorist by the United States and India. “New Delhi will ask Pakistan to attack the Salauddin’s property as ‘proceeds of crime’,” a second senior MHA official who did not want to be named said. “If Pakistan refuses, India is free to raise the issue at appropriate forum, including the Financial Action Task Force (FATF),” he said. Pakistan is in the “grey list” of FATF.

The other 30 properties belong to nine prominent members separatists leaders. The properties identified for attachment are spread across Srinagar, Jammu, Kupwara, and Budgam.

Interestingly, of the 30 properties, as many as 10 belong to Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Ahmad Watali.

“Our inquiries suggest that Wattali acted as the conduit passing on funds, at times washed money received from Pakistan and held it for the separatists. He is in Jail now and is suspected to be a conduit for the separatist. Earlier this week, the Enforce- ment Directorate attached Watli’s house in the National Capital Region (NCR) as “proceeds of crime.”

The National Investigative Agency (NIA) that started probing terror financing in 2017 charged as many as 12 people under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

The Enforcement Directorate that enforces the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 which came into force from July 2005.

“As the NIA investigation unfolded, a decision was taken to go for the key players to cripple the network of terror financing. As a result of this decision, three properties of Aftab Ahmed Shah, charged by the NIA and believed to close to several separatists leaders, have been taken-up for attachment” the second senior MHA official said.

Others whose properties have been identified for attachment include Altaf Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Khan, Farooq Ahmad Dar, Basir Ahmad Bhat. They have all been charged by the NIA.

New Delhi has been trying to choke funds reaching terror groups. Earlier, it cracked down the under-invoicing of goods passing through the border trading points between Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Jammu and Kashmir. And, at the same time, it has banned organisations like the Jamaat-e-Islamai (J&K) and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).