Sons of Syed Salahuddin and their crimes against India

Srinagar, Aug 30: In furtherance of its probe against terror funding in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Investigation Agency today arrested Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin's son, Shakeel Yusuf.

The arrest comes close on the heels of the NIA chargesheeting Syed Shahid Yusuf, another son of Salahuddin's.

Prior to the arrest, the NIA had questioned six persons including Shakeel Yusuf, who works as a medical assistant at Srinagar's Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences.

The NIA questioned him over allegations that he used to receive funds sent by his father through a US-based international wire transfer company, officials said.

The agency alleged that Yusuf was also "one of several Indian contacts" of a hawala operator based in Saudi Arabia identified as Aijaz Ahmed Bhat, and was alleged to have been in telephonic contact with him for receiving money transfer codes.

The case, registered by the NIA in April 2011, relates to the transfer of money from Pakistan to Jammu and Kashmir through hawala channels via Delhi, which the agency believed was used in funding terrorism and secessionist activities.

Syed Shahid Yusuf:

Syed Shahid Yusuf, the son of Hizbul Mujahideen chief, Syed Salahuddin was charged with indulging in activities that promoted terrorism in Kashmir. Yusuf who is a government employee in Budgam town of central Kashmir was arrested on charges of receiving money through international wire transfers in a bid to cause unrest in the Valley.

The NIA chargesheet has alleged that Yusuf had hatched a conspiracy to received funds from Pakistan through hawala channels to spread terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The NIA has accused him of committing various offences punishable under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

42-year-old Yousuf was posted as an agricultural assistant in Budgam town of central Kashmir when he was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on October 24 last year. He is currently in judicial custody. His bail plea was dismissed by the trial court here on March 7.

The NIA charge sheet was filed under sections 13 (punishment for unlawful activities), 17 (punishment for raising funds for terrorist act), 18 (punishment for conspiracy), 20 (punishment for being member of terrorist gang or organisation), 21 (punishment for holding proceeds of terrorism), 38 (membership of a terrorist organisation) and 39 (support given to a terrorist organization) of UAPA.

The final report also accused him of hatching a criminal conspiracy, punishable under section 120-B of Indian Penal Code. The agency said the case was registered on the basis of information regarding funds from Pakistan being sent to Jammu and Kashmir through hawala channels via Delhi to spread terrorism.

The NIA had earlier alleged that the accused had links with proscribed terrorist organisations like Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. It has claimed that Yousuf had received a total of nearly Rs 4.5 lakh through eight international wire transfers. The agency, which had in 2011 arrested several persons including one Ghulam Mohd Bhat with Rs 21.2 lakh, alleged that Yousuf was "one of the several Indian contacts of Bhat" who had been in touch with him for receiving money transfer codes.

It had alleged that Yousuf's involvement was found in collecting funds from a terrorist outfit in Saudi Arabia as well as from other accused on the directions of his father, Mohd Yousuf Shah alias Syed Salahuddin, the self-styled supreme commander of the Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen. Syed Salahuddin was declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Department of State in June last year.

The NIA had registered two other cases related to terror funding -- one in November 2011 and the other in May 2017. It had filed a charge sheet against 10 people including Salahuddin in the April 2011 case. In the latest case, the NIA arrested various people including some close relatives and aides of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.