SIA files chargesheet against two narco-terror financers

Srinagar, Mar 18: State Investigation Agency (SIA) filed chargesheet against two accused who along with their other associates were involved in operating a narco-terror financing module in the UT.

SIA in a statement issued said that the chargesheet has been filed against Zaheed Ahmad Khoja and Zameer Ahmad Lone under various provisions of NDPS Act and UA(P) Act in Special Designated UAPA Court under the NIA Act. It said that Zaheed Ahmad Khoja was arrested in September last year when he was intercepted while transporting a huge consignment of Heroin weighing 3.565 Kgs (valued at more than Rs 25 crores) while Zameer Ahmad Lone is an active terrorist of LeT, originally resident of Kashmir and now based in Pakistan/ POK, chargesheeted as an absconding accused.

Zaheed and Zameer and others in connivance with terrorists of proscribed terrorist organizations, hatched a criminal conspiracy of raising funds by illegally smuggling / trafficking narcotics / contraband from across the border and from the narco proceeds financially support terrorist acts and to fund terror ecosystem, statement said.

In pursuance of the above-mentioned larger criminal conspiracy, the duo and their other associates in close coordination through conversations over encrypted messaging applications planned systematically spreading communal disharmony through terror acts targeted at minority communities, statement said.

The statement also said that the terror funds were used for personal enrichment and for furtherance of terrorist acts including setting ablaze Government buildings, residential houses of minority communities / Police personnel and office of a political party, as directed by various terrorist organisations, active in Jammu and Kashmir.

SIA has been successful in busting the narco terror financing module where in linkages have been found with multiple terror organisations.

Terrorist outfits active in UT of Jammu and Kashmir are deeply involved in raising terror funds through sale of illegally trafiicked Narcotics from across the borders to sustain their terror operations and activities.

Further investigation against other associates of the chargesheeted accused persons in this case will continue, statement added.