SIA charges Hizbul chief Salahuddin, 10 others in Jammu & Kashmir narco-terror case

The probe revealed that narcotics were smuggled into Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan, and the proceeds from drug sales were routed to accounts controlled by the accused, reportedly at the direction of Hizbul handler Basharat Bhat. (Representative image)

In a significant development in the fight against narco-terrorism, the Jammu and Kashmir State Investigation Agency (SIA) has filed a chargesheet against 11 individuals, including Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Mohammad Yusuf Shah, alias Syed Salahuddin.

The charges stem from a 2022 case involving a well-coordinated network accused of smuggling narcotics into the Union Territory to fund terrorist activities.

According to an official spokesperson, the investigation uncovered a sprawling network of Hizbul Mujahideen operatives, couriers, and drug peddlers actively supporting the banned terror outfit by channeling funds through narcotics trafficking.

Alongside Salahuddin, who hails from Sibugh village in Budgam and is currently operating from across the border, another Pakistan-based Hizbul operative, Basharat Ahmad Bhat from the Khan Sahib area of Budgam (currently based in Rawalpindi), has also been named in the chargesheet.

The other accused include Khalid Hussain of Rajouri, Mohd Shokit of Poonch, Javid Ahmed Rather of Budgam, Manzoor Ahmad and Asif Rehman Reshi of Srinagar, and Harpreet Singh, Chain Singh, Sahil Kumar, and Sandeepak Singh from Jammu.

“The investigation has exposed this network as a major channel for terror financing in the region,” the spokesperson said. “Several accused have accumulated considerable wealth through narcotics proceeds, despite having minimal legal income.”

The probe revealed that narcotics were smuggled into Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan, and the proceeds from drug sales were routed to accounts controlled by the accused, reportedly at the direction of Hizbul handler Basharat Bhat.

The accused were not only involved in drug smuggling but also in local-level distribution. Some acted as drug dealers while others helped expand the distribution network among the youth, further deepening the drug menace in the region.

According to the SIA, the operation was part of a broader conspiracy led by Pakistan-sponsored Hizbul Mujahideen to destabilise the region and fund terror activities under the guise of drug trade.

The agency confirmed that further investigations are underway to identify more operatives and dismantle the entire ecosystem.

The chargesheet, according to officials, reflects the SIA’s commitment to breaking the back of narco-terrorism and safeguarding the fragile peace in Jammu and Kashmir.