Hizb-ul-Mujahideen pays salary to active cadres: NIA to court

New Delhi: Terror outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideen pays monthly salary to members associated with it and their 'remuneration' has surged around five folds in 2011 compared to what was paid to them in 1990s, the NIA has said in its charge sheet filed before a Delhi court.

In its charge sheet filed against HM chief Syed Salahuddin and nine other members of the banned outfit for allegedly receiving funds of about Rs 80 crore from Pakistan for carrying out terror activities across India, the NIA said active HM caders receive monthly funds on regular basis.

"Investigation has revealed that each active cadre of HM receives monthly funds on regular basis for his association with the said outfit. This monthly remuneration has increased from Rs 2,000-3,000 per month in 1990s to Rs 10,000-12,000 per month in 2011," the probe agency said.

It also said that the terror outfit had developed a set-up for distribution of funds to its sympathisers and others and also provides money to its cadres for contesting court cases.

"Investigation has revealed that HM developed an excellent set-up for distribution of funds to sympathisers, runners, over ground workers and underground workers, also a mechanism to systematically and regularly fund to next of kins of its cadres killed/injured terrorists is in place," it said.

"HM also provides funds to meet judicial expenses for contesting cases of its cadres who are detained under J & K Public Safety Act, arrested in criminal cases and to those who are facing trial in terrorism cases," the NIA said.

District Judge I S Mehta has taken cognisance of the charge sheet and has fixed the matter for further hearing on December 7.

Besides Salahuddin, the NIA has chargesheeted Mohd Shafi Shah, Talib Lali, Gulam Nabi Khan, Umer Farooq Shera, Manzoor Ahmed Dar, Zaffar Hussain Bhatt, Nazir Ahamd Dar, Abdul Majeed Sofi and Mubarak Shah.

Out of the 10 accused, who all are active members of HM, Mohd Shafi Shah and Talib Lali, both from J-K, were arrested by NIA and are in judicial custody. 

The NIA, in its charge sheet, said that head office of JKART is in Rawalpindi in Pakistan and its branch offices are in Islamabad and Muzaffarabad.

It said that the money reaches India through hawala route and banking channels and are distributed through the conduits not only in Jammu and Kashmir but also in Delhi and other parts of the country.

"Investigation conducted so far in the instant case has revealed that different channels operate for the transfer of terror funds from HM/JKART Pakistan to active HM cadres and other beneficiaries in the state of J-K to further terrorist activities and wage war against India."

"The hawala route, banking channels, human couriers and of late, the cross border trade are identified as some of the mediums for such funding from across the border," it said.

Giving details of the banned terror outfit, the NIA said HM has established its main office at Islamabad in Pakistan while JKART is its "frontal organisation".

"Investigation has revealed that in furtherance of the said criminal conspiracy, Markazi-e-Shura of HM, a top body of its decision making, in the year 1999 in a meeting chaired by Mohd Syed Salahuddin...in connivance with the agencies of Government of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, including but not limited to Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), founded a trust namely JKART, a frontal organisation of HM, with the object to systematically receive, collect and raise funds from different sources in Pakistan and other countries," it said.

"...in the garb of relief for rehabilitation of affected persons (called affectees by HM) in state of J-K for furthering terrorist activities in India. Investigation has established that funds so raised by JKART are used by HM to foster terrorist activities by its cadres in J-K," the NIA said.

JKART also received funds from another trust 'Relief Organisation for Kashmiri Muslims (ROKM)' founded for rehabilitation of migrant Kashmiri Muslims in Pakistan and POK, it said, adding JKART and ROKM are primarily funded by Pakistan government and its agencies.