Hurriyat terror funding: How this high-profile Sringar businessman moved funds from Pak to Kashmir

Watali will not only be questioned in the terror funding case.

The National Investigation Agency made a 'high profile' arrest in the Hurriyat terror funding case. The agency arrested Zahoor Ahmad Watali, a prominent businessman from Srinagar.

The NIA says that he is a key operative who was the bridge between the separatists and the ISI. It is alleged that through his company he channelised funds for subversive activities in Kashmir. The NIA has identified the company as the Trison Group.

During the questioning of the various Hurriyat leaders it came to light that Watali was an important player. The manner in which he would transfer the money and also his well established contacts in Pakistan came to light during the questioning.

Among the various remittances that he made, the one which caught the eye of the agencies dated back to 2011. It was a remittance of 31,000 US dollars. This remittance was made after he returned from Dubai, the agencies say.

In addition to this his accounts in the RAK and J&K bank had many such remittances. The NIA is now trying to find out the source of the money. He had claimed that the income was legitimate and even told the NIA that he had paid his income tax.

Watali started off as a driver with Abdul Ghani Lone, the late Hurriyat leader. Over the years he built contacts in the ISI and also the Pakistan Army. For several years now, he has been moving ISI funds to Kashmir for subversive activities. He had over the years become the point man for the ISI to transfer funds to Kashmir, investigations have also found.

He is also said to be close to Sardar Ateaq Khan, the former chief minister of Pakistan occupied Kashmir. His name has cropped up several times during investigations. He was under the scanner in 2005 when the agencies found that he had been channelising huge sums of money from Pakistan to Kashmir. He had also come under the radar in 1994 when he was found funding a terrorist group Al Burq.

Watali will not only be questioned in the terror funding case. The NIA has found a diary with notings of large sums of money being transferred to purchase propery in posh localities. The agencies have found that he has properties in Greater Kailash, Sainik Farms, Gurgaon and in London too.

OneIndia News