Hizbul Mujahideen's financing module busted, 3 arrested

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir police today claimed to have busted a financing module of Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit with the arrest of three persons, including brother of an alleged active militant, along with Rs 17.5 lakh and 33 fake golden coins in Kulgam district.

"Mudasir Ahmad Sheikh of Rampora, Mushtaq Ahmad Kumbay of Wonpoh and Mohammad Iqbal Khan alias Manzoor of Shopian were arrested for their involvement in running a Hizbul Mujahideen financing module," a police spokesman said.

He said the trio were arrested during investigation after police received a specific information that Sheikh's militant brother Tausif along with his associate Mohammad Abbass have obtained some fake golden coins (Edward Golden Pounds) from across the border and are duping the general public by selling these as genuine to finance the militant activities in the south Kashmir district.

The spokesman said an amount of Rs 12.5 lakh was recovered at the instance of Sheikh, while five lakhs and 33 fake Golden Pounds were recovered from the possession of Khan.

Both the militants are still at large and efforts are on to nab them, he said adding the duo were also involved in several acts of militancy including killings of a National Conference Panch Gul Mohammad Bhat of Wanpoh and a police follower Mohammad Rafiq Mir of Hussanpora bagh village.

"Further investigation in this regard is going on," he said.