Security forces have busted a militant funding and recruitment module of the Tehreek-e-ul Mujahideen in north Kashmir by arresting six members of the group, police said on Thursday.
The module, police said, was running a racket under the garb of a “fake” Non Governmental Organization “Islahi Falahi Relief Trust” (IFRT).
The Kupwara police along with Army’s 21 Rashtriya Rifles and 47 RR busted the module.
The police said the action was made possible after an individual, Bilal Ahmed Dar, hailing from Cheerkote area of Kupwara was arrested following inputs about the financing of a militant group and its recruitment activities.
“After a thorough interrogation, Dar revealed that he along with five other people from different parts of north Kashmir were running a terror funding racket under the garb of a fake NGO called “Islahi Falahi Relief Trust” (IFRT) which claimed to provide monetary assistance to poor and needy families,” a police statement said.
“He was actively involved in coordinating the funding for terror activities and aiding recruitment by organizing “Ijtema” meetings in different villages where he along with other members of the NGO would try and lure young people into anti-national activities,” it added.
The police said Dar also revealed the names of other accomplices — Wahid Ahmed Bhatt’ from Kachloo, Langete Handwara; Javed Ahmed Najar from Singhpora, Baramulla; Mushtaq Ahmed Najar of Brath Sopore; Bashir Ahmed Mir from Mundji Sopore; and Zubair Ahmed Dar from Cheerkote, also Dar’s cousin.
“The module was being coordinated by Pakistan based handlers to aid the operations of Tehreek-e-ul Mujhahideen Jammu & Kashmir (TuMJK) in North Kashmir,” the statement said.
It said the modus operandi of the group was to go to different villages and conduct events and gatherings to collect money by asking for charity and also scout for potential soft targets as recruits.
“The accounts in the NGO’s name were being used to launder money for the TuMJK.
“The group was also responsible for sticking anti-national posters around August 15 and during the visit of the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Baramulla.
“Dar specifically also admitted to hoisting a Pakistani flag inside Markazi Jamia Masjid Kupwara on August 14, on the instructions of his Pakistani handlers,” the statement added.
Police said the group was also actively collecting explosive materials which are known to be used in IED’s.
“Bilal and his associates were receiving instructions from across the border from two local terror handlers now based in Pakistan — Dr Shah Sab alias Manzoor Shah alias Gen Abdullah actually named as Ghulam Rasool Shah of Hyhama Kupwara, and Tariq Peer actually named Mohd Sultan Peer of Sulkoot Kupwara and Pakistani handlerers with differnet codes,” the police said
Wahid Bhatt was the mastermind behind the recruitment and terror funding module, it said.
“Five pistols, ten magazines, 49 pistol ammunition, two grenades and one IED was recovered from the module,” the police said.
A case under sections 7/25 Arms Act, 13,18,20,38 UA(P) Act has been registered against all the individuals in Police Station Kupwara for further investigation.
