ED attaches over Rs.17 lakhs given to Kashmiri locals by Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists

New Delhi [India], Mar. 29 (ANI): The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday attached over Rs. 17 Lakhs that was allegedly received by certain residents of Jammu and Kashmir from the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit to transfer to other terrorists. ED attached Rs.17,73,914 in the form of cash and bank balance allegedly received by Irshad Ahmad Qureshi, Irshad Ahmad Hajjam and Firdous Ahmad Wani of Baramula and other areas of Jammu and Kashmir, from Hizbul Mujahideen for utilizing it for terrorist activities. According to the FIR filed in the case by P.S. Karan Nagar, Srinagar two persons namely P.Z. Irshad Ahmad Qureshi and Irshad Ahmad Hajjam were apprehended from Karan Nagar, Srinagar, and as a result of their personal search, total amount of Rs. 1.25 lakhs was recovered and seized from their possession (Rs. 40,000 from P.Z. Irshad Ahmad Qureshi and Rs. 85,000 from Irshad Ahmad Hajjam). Further cash amount of Rs. 7.00 lakhs along with incriminating documents were seized from the residential house of Irshad and Rs. 3.00 lakh was recovered from the residence of one Firdous Ahmad Wani on his disclosure. Disclosure of another accused Irshad Ahmad Hajjam led to the seizure of Rs. 2.15 lakhs in cash along with three letter pads of Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit from his residence. Similarly, an amount of Rs. 4, 34,414 in the account of Irshad Ahmad Qureshi in J&K Bank, Branch Qamarwari, Srinagar was also frozen by local Police during the investigation. Thus, total amount of Rs.17, 74,414 was seized/frozen by the police, having link with the crime, out of which one piece of Rs.500 note was found counterfeit during FSL examination. During PMLA investigation, Irshad stated that he works as Principal in a private school and that in November 2007 he came in contact with one militant Bashir Ahmad Aijaz, while travelling in a bus from Baramulla to Srinagar, who offered him a proposal for distribution of money against 5% commission. He further stated that he accepted the said proposal and accordingly, as per the arrangements, he used to get money into his bank account existing in J&K Bank, Qamarwari Branch, Srinagar, which was subsequently distributed among the people as per the instruction of the above named Bashir Ahmad Aijaz. He further stated that subsequently he associated Irshad Ahmad Hajjam with him and utilized his services for distribution of the money against a commission of two percent (2%). Irshad Ahmad Hajjam admitted his involvement in the crime. Both the accused stated that the money seized from the residence of Irshad Ahmad Hajjam was provided to them by one Firdous Ahmad Wani, the third accused. Firdous tried to mislead the investigation and stated that the seized money was the share of sale of ancestral house, which was meant for his brother settled in Pakistan. However, he could not justify the recovered amount as sale proceeds. (ANI)