Hawala money was for HM’s financial chief
Aditya V Singh, The Indian Express
March 10, 2008

Introduction: The recoveries from the arrested persons include hawala money worth Rs 1,14,000, two mobile phones and nine SIM cards-eight of airtel and one of BSNL

Interrogations of the hawala racketeers arrested by the Special - Operation Group of Rajouri Police divulged that hawala money re-covered was meant for the top commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit in J-K, revealed official sources. The recoveries from the arrested persons included hawala money worth Rs 1,14,000, two mobile phones and nine SIM cards - eight of Airtel and one of BSNL. Besides, four sunglasses, one pair of shoes, and articles of clothing were also recovered.

Moreover, with the busting of the hawala racket, sources reveal that a student-teacher nexus therein has also surfaced.

The SOG, Rajouri, got a major breakthrough after getting information regarding the delivery of the above-mentioned consignment to the financial chief of the HM militant outfit, Mohammad Zulf alias Munshi, son of Mohammad Shafi Bhat; resident of Karag, Kandi. This was further meant for the divisional commander of HM, identified as Saqib Kishtwari code Mic-2, through one of his most trusted lieutenants Mohammad Qadir code - Lucky Bhai, son of Mohammad Naseeb Kamlak, resident of Kandi, Rajouri.

According to sources, most important was the delivery of a Lopo SIM - a specific Sim card issued to Airtel dealers alone to transfer topup/recharge amounts to other prepaid cell numbers without getting recharge coupons.

On receiving information, Deputy SP Operations, Rajouri, Farooq Qaiser, and two teams, led by Sub-Inspector Aijaz Qaiser and SI Ashiq Shah, SHO, Kandi police station, Rajouri, cordoned off Karag village in Kandi, to begin search operations.

During the search operations, Munshi's house was raided, where a meeting was going on. Two persons, Mohamad Qadir alias Lucky Bhai, a government teacher, posted at Government School Saara, Kandi, and Karmat-UI-lah, son of Mohamamd Muneer, resident of Khadyoon, who runs a kiryana shop in Kandi, were arrested. The hawala consignment, besides mobile phones and SIM cards were recovered from their possession.

Sources stated the hawala money and other commodities were to be further delivered to Abbas Bhat alias Saqib Kishtwari, who hailed from Batyas, Gandoh of Doda district, and is the son of an imam. He is the divisional commander of HM for three districts Rajouri, Poonch and Reasi, and is the senior-most militant commander of HM in the state after the Kashmir police eliminated Hanief Khan.

According to sources, in 1996 the Doda Police had gunned down Saqib's elder brother also a militant. The operation was personally monitored by Shabir A Chowdhary, Additional Sp, Rajouri, under the direct supervision of P R Manhas, DIG, Rajouri-Poonch Range.

Mohammad Zulf alias Munshi belongs to a family with a history of producing financial chiefs for various militant outfits. His elder brother Abdul Qayoom alias Abu Musaib (code 09) was the former financial chief of Muttahida Jehad Council (MJC) - an amalgam of all militant outfits. The Rajouri Police eliminated him on June 27, 2007 in Ansi Dhok, Kandi.

The diaries recovered from his possession revealed the transaction and distribution of lakhs of rupees between various militant outfits.

Munshi joined militant ranks soon after his brother's death and was elevated to the rank of HuM financial chief:
due to his brother's contributions. Rajouri police has extracted the details of the financial transactions among the militant outfits, thereby exerting extra pressure on the militant ranks.

In January 2007, Rajouri police had nabbed Mohammad Iqbal Sheikh alias Lambu, son of Ghulam Mohamamd Sheikh, resident of Pulwama and Hilal Ahmed alias Driver, resident of Pulwama, who acted as couriers for the outfits.

Their disclosures had led to the elimination of Hanief Khan in Kashmir. An alert was sounded from across the border to all militant outfits after the arrest of Lambu.