The Jammu and Kashmir Police have taken a significant step in combating terrorism by attaching the properties of five Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) terror handlers who have relocated to Pakistan. These individuals are reportedly orchestrating terror funding activities in the region from across the border. The move aims to disrupt their financial support networks and curb their influence in Jammu and Kashmir.
The terror handlers, originally from the Mahore and Chassana areas of Reasi district, have been missing since the early 1990s, with their disappearance spanning from 1991 to 2003. It is believed that they had traveled to Pakistan to receive arms training with the explicit intention of destabilizing peace in Jammu and Kashmir. Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that these individuals are now actively engaged with the LeT in Pakistan, channeling arms, ammunition, and financial resources to fuel terrorist operations within the Union Territory. Furthermore, they are allegedly involved in radicalizing and instigating local youth to participate in terror-related activities.
The individuals whose properties have been attached have been identified as Alaf Din, whose seven kanals of land have been seized; Ghulam Mohd, with 10 kanals and 11 marlas; Mohammad Asraf, whose 17 marlas of land are now under attachment; Shabir Ahmad, with seven kanals and three marlas; and Bihar Din, whose eight kanals and one marla of land have also been attached. These properties represent a tangible asset base that the police aim to neutralize to prevent its misuse for terror financing.
A police official elaborated on the operation, stating that the Reasi police carried out the attachment of these immovable properties as part of an ongoing investigation into a case registered at the Mahore police station. The case falls under the purview of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and the E&IMCO Act, underscoring the serious nature of the charges. The attachment proceedings were meticulously conducted by a police team led by Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Mahore, Parul Bhardwaj, in the presence of the Executive Magistrate, Mahore, and local witnesses, ensuring due process was followed.
Evidence gathered during the investigation strongly indicates that these terror handlers are making attempts to sell their land holdings. The proceeds from such sales were intended to be channeled towards furthering terrorist activities in the region. According to the official, the properties currently registered in the names of these terrorists are considered ‘proceeds of terrorism’ as defined under Section 2(g) of the UAPA. Consequently, they are liable for attachment under Section 25 of the UAPA, as specified in FIR No. 70/2024 of the Mahore police station. This legal framework allows authorities to seize assets that are linked to or derived from terrorist activities, thereby crippling the financial infrastructure of terror organizations.
The police have compiled a list of at least 30 individuals from the Reasi district who reportedly migrated to Pakistan during the 1990s, presumably for terror-related purposes. However, it was through detailed questioning of family members and local residents that the authorities became aware of the current attempts by these five terror handlers to liquidate their properties. This intelligence gathering highlights the importance of community cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts.
The investigation has established credible evidence that the accused individuals not only moved to Pakistan for terrorist training but are presently operating as terror handlers from across the border. Their activities include actively promoting, facilitating, and coordinating terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir. The police further revealed that these properties were identified as being at risk of alienation, with the proceeds earmarked to finance and sustain terrorist endeavors. This proactive measure by the Jammu and Kashmir Police is expected to significantly impede the operational capabilities of the LeT in the region by cutting off a vital source of funding and logistical support.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
Leave a Reply