Terror Funding Case | SIA Kashmir files chargesheet against Sarjan Barkati, others

Srinagar, Feb 23: The Kashmir unit of the State Investigation Agency (SIA) Friday presented a chargesheet against Sajran Barkati and others in a terror funding case.

The chargesheet was presented in case FIR No 2 of 2023 of Police Station SIA Kashmir before the Special UAPA Court, Kulgam, against Sarjan Ahmad Wagay alias Sarjan Barkati, his wife, and Abdul Hamid Lone alias Hamid Mawar, an active terrorist of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, based in Pakistan, who is absconding.

The case was registered on March 3, 2023, under Sections 13, 17, 18, 21, 39, and 40 of the UA(P)A read with Section 120-B of the IPC based on allegations that Barkati, son of Abdul Razaq Wagay of Rebban, Zainapora, Shopian, an active ideologue, promoter, and supporter of ongoing terrorist-secessionist nexus, hatched a criminal conspiracy with others which include his relatives and family members to facilitate, aid, incite, advice, advocate, and promote terrorist and secessionist ideologies and activities through his inflammatory speeches and audio and video inflammatory speeches.

The chargesheet stated that the case was registered against him for inciting, instigating, and provoking youth to join the terrorist ranks.

“Further in pursuance of the larger criminal conspiracy, they received, raised, and collected funds from different suspicious sources in cash and through banking channels into their bank accounts of different banks, intended to be used for purposes of terrorism and secessionism,” it said. “By using these funds, Barkarti purchased some immovable properties intended and likely to be used for the furtherance of terrorism.”

The chargesheet stated that the investigation had established the culpability of the accused Barkati, his wife, and their Pakistan-based handler in furthering and financing the terrorist and secessionist activities in J&K.

“The trio accused under the criminal conspiracy generated terror funds to the tune of Rs 1.74 crore, which were routed through various shell accounts intended to be used for promoting and creating wherewithal for the propagation of secessionist, subversive, terrorist ideology, and unlawful activities in J&K to achieve their common objective of separation of J&K from the Union of India and to support terror activities and ecosystem,” it said. “The trio was in contact with each other through secret communication applications and encrypted messenger applications.”

In the investigation of the case among the accused chargesheeted, two have already been arrested and lodged in judicial custody while the third is based in Pakistan.

The chargesheet was presented within the statutory period of investigation after obtaining the mandatory government sanction against these three accused persons for the commission of offences punishable under Sections 13, 17, 18, 21, 39, and 40 of the UA(P)A read with Sections 120-B, 420, and 471 of the IPC.

“Further investigation against other suspects and associates of charge-sheeted accused persons will be continued,” the SIA Kashmir said.