Dedicated NIA wing to hunt down Naxals

Focuses on crackdown on terror- funding, money laundering, sympathisers ◗ The step comes post the arrests of Hizbul Mujahideen chief Sayed Salahuddin's son and son- in- law of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani

New Delhi, April 22: A dedicated wing is being set up in the NIA to go after Naxal leaders and their sympathisers, who are allegedly involved in large- scale money laundering and spending huge amounts in the higher education of their children, officials have said.

The home ministry recently gave its approval for setting up the dedicated wing in the national investigation agency for the task.

The move came following the NIA’s extensive terrorfunding probe against Kashmiri separatists, during which the central probe agency arrested several leaders of the Hurriyat and their kin, including the son of Hizbul Mujahideen chief Sayed Salahuddin and the son- in- law of hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

“A dedicated wing of the NIA is coming up to take up the terror funding and money laundering cases of the Naxals.

The home ministry has given the necessary approval for it,” a home ministry official told PTI. The NIA will go after the Naxal leaders and their sympathisers who are involved in all such cases, the official said.

In February, the Enforcement Directorate ( ED) attached properties worth ` 86 lakh of a Jharkhand- based Maoist commander, Sandeep Yadav.

It also attached assets worth Rs 68 lakh of two senior Maoist leaders — Bihar- based brothers Pradumn Sharma and Pramod Sharma — in connection with a moneylaundering probe against them.

Mr Pradumn has several aliases such as Kundan Ji, Lulha, Saket, Anish Ji and is in charge of the Magadh zone special area committee of Bihar- Jharkhand of Naxalites.

Mr Pramod, having aliases such as Prabhakar Ji and Pramod Singh, is the secretary of Banawar sub- area zonal committee of the CPI ( Maoist).

The investigation has found that proceeds of crime have been utilised by Mr Pradumn and Mr Pramod to make huge expenses towards the admission of Mr Pramod’s daughter in a medical college and a coaching of their son and daughter at coaching institutes in Kota and Patna, an official said on request of anonymity.