Delhi court takes cognizance of charges against Hizb chief

A court here has taken cognizance of a charge sheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin and nine others for funding terror activities through a front organisation in Jammu and Kashmir.

District Judge I.S. Mehta of the Patiala House court complex formally took up the charge sheet which was filed in November-end before his court.

After taking cognizance of the charge sheet, the court slated the matter for Dec 7 for further proceedings.

In the charge sheet, the NIA has alleged that Hizbul Mujahideen operatives based in Pakistan used the cover of Jammu and Kashmir Affectees Relief Trust (JKART) to provide funds through various channels for terrorist activities in India.

The NIA charge sheeted Mohd. Shafi Shah and Talib Lali, who are at present in judicial custody in Delhi.

Hizbul chief Salahuddin is based in pakistan, and the other seven accused are missing and on the run, the agency said.

It also named Hizbul Mujahideen deputy commander Gulam Nabi Khan as an accused in the case.

The others named in the charge sheet are Umer Farooq Shera alias Mehboob-ul-Haq, Manzoor Ahmed Dar alias Masroor Dar, Zaffar Hussain Bhat alias Khursheed, Nazir Ahmad Dar alias Shabir Ellahi, Abdul Majeed Sofi alias Majeed Bisati and Mubarak Shah.

All of them have been charged with hatching criminal conspiracy, waging war against the country and committing various other terrorist activities.

The NIA said they were raising funds for terror attacks in Kashmir and other parts of country and that they collected around Rs.80 crore in the last eight years.

The NIA said that during investigation, the flow of funds raised and distributed by the Hizbul Mujahideen was established.

Different channels like hawala, banking network, cross-border trade were used, it said.