Srinagar: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday attached four properties, owned by members of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), in Kupwara district of north Kashmir.
A spokesperson of the NIA in a statement said the action comes a day after the agency attached six immovable properties of a “top terrorist” of the banned Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) outfit in J&K, as part of its drive to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in Kashmir and other parts of India.
He said the four properties attached today were found to be “proceeds of terrorism” as per NIA investigations. The properties, “which were used to hatch terror conspiracies and carry out terrorist attacks”, belonged to accused Mohammad Alam Bhat, Mohammad Yousuf Khawaja, Shabir Ahmed Gakhad, Zakir Hussain Mir, “all associated with Pakistan-based handlers/operatives/commanders of HM,” the agency said.
NIA investigations, as per the spokesperson, have revealed that the four men were involved in illegal supply of weapons, arms, ammunition and narcotics. “They were actively engaged in spreading and strengthening militancy in Kashmir.”
The properties attached today under UA(P) Act include two immovable properties — a house each belonging to Alam Bhat and Mohammad Yousaf Khawaja in Karnah area of Kupwara. Two movable properties, in the form of Tata Sumo vehicles, have also been attached.
According to investigations by the NIA, the houses of Alam Bhat and Mohammad Yousaf Khawaja “were used as shelter/warehouse for storage and concealment of arms and ammunition, and also for harbouring terrorists.”
The two vehicles were used as a safe mode for transporting arms and ammunition, the spokesperson said.
NIA had registered this case in February 2019 against HM members for the supply of weapons, arms, ammunition and narcotics from PoK to India, he said and added the further investigations are continuing in this case.
