January 2018 chargesheet of the National Investigation Agency against 12 people for conspiring to wage war against the government: add-on

This page was added for clarification of statements in the main body of the leak.
See Violations of India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement

19.01.2018 the National Investigation Agency of India (NIA) filed a chargesheet against 12 people including Lashkar e Toiba chief chief Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen head and chairman of United Jehad Council Syed Salahuddin, some Hurriyat leaders and two persons involved in throwing stones, among others, for “conspiring to wage war against the government” and fomenting trouble in the Kashmir Valley.

National Investigation Agency statement:

“The scrutiny and analysis of the documents and digital devices established that the accused i.e. the Hurriyat leaders, the terrorists and the stone-pelters are carrying out terrorist attacks and orchestrating violence, stone-pelting and other subversive and secessionist activities in Jammu & Kashmir as a part of their well-planned criminal conspiracy hatched with the active support, connivance and funding from terrorist organisations based in Pakistan and its agencies to achieve their objective of secession of the State of Jammu & Kashmir by waging war against the Government of India.

The investigation has conclusively established that for carrying out all these terrorist and subversive activities, the gang of the accused persons is receiving funds from Pakistani agencies through hawala conduits such as Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali and others and are also raising funds by generating illegal profits from LoC barter trade by doing under-invoicing and cash-dealings".

The 12,794-page chargesheet was filed under sections of Indian Penal Code relating to criminal conspiracy, sedition and waging war against the nation among others, besides relevant provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

  • Saeed and Salahuddin were aware of the financial transactions with the separatist leaders who received funds from UAE-based shell companies.
  • The chargesheet has also referred to oral evidence suggesting some of the accused like Nayeem Ahmad Khan were in touch with some officials of the High Commission for Pakistan, (NEW DELHI. Chancery Address: No. 2/50-G, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi-110021).


Picture: Hafeez Mohammad Syed
Full list of accused infividuals:
A-1 Hafeez Mohammad Syed (1950), described as the head of the banned terrorist organization „Lashkar-e-Toiba‟ („LET‟)
A-2 Mohammed Yusuf Shah (Syed Salahuddin, 18.02.1946), stated to be the head of banned terrorist organization Hijbul Mujahiddin („HM‟)
A-3 Aftab Ahmad Shah (Aftab Hilali Shah, Shahid-ul-Islam), described as the spokesman and media advisor of the APHC (Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Faction)
A-4 Altaf Ahmad Shah Fantoosh, described as the public relation s officer and chief organizer as well as Secretary of the APHC. According to National Investigating Agency statement Altaf Ahmad Shah Fantoosh was in direct contact with the High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi and would apprise him about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir
A-5 Gulam Mohammad Khan, the chairman of National Front which is described as a political separatist outfit of J&K. Gulam Mohammad Khan have admitted that “the secessionists and terrorists of the Valley are receiving financial support from Pakistan and would have received approximately Rs.200 crores (about 28 429 280,00 USD) to organize anti-India protests and agitations after the killing of Burhan Wani, the Commander of Hijbul Mujahiddin.” Inter alia it is stated that Gulam Mohammad Khan admitted to the pivotal role played by the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi to receive and convey instructions from Pakistan
A–6 Farooq Ahmad Dar (Bitta Karate), described as the Chairman Jam mu and Kashmir Liberation Front (R). Bitta Karate admitted that funds were being sent by Pakistan to the secessionists and terrorists in the Kashmir Valley including himself “for organizing forcible closures, anti-India protests and processions and stone-pelting on the security forces.” Son-in-law of Hurriyat hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani
A-7 Mohammad Akbar Khanday, described as spokesperson/ media advisor of Hurriyat Conference (G)
A-8 Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal, described as President of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, District Srinagar
A-9 Bashir Ahmad Bh at (Peer Saifullah), an Imam in a Masjid and a personal assistant of Syed Ali Shah Geelani as well as a secretary of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat
A-10 Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali
A-11 Kamran Yusuf, a photo journalist
A-12 Javed Ahmad Bhatt, hawker of home appliances

After filing of the charge-sheet, A-11 and A-12 have been granted regular bail. A-1 and A-2  have  not  been  arrested.  A-10 was granted regular bail in September 2018. All the other accused are in judicial custody.

Scheme of financing

According to the NIA, the separatists leaders are raising funds through the LoC trade by way of directing Kashmiri traders to do under-invoicing of the goods which were imported through LoC barter trade. Parts of the profits from selling the goods to traders in Delhi is alleged to be shared with Hurriyat leaders and other separatists, which in turn is used for anti-India propaganda for mobilizing the public to organize protests and stone-pelting and to support the families of killed/jailed militants. It is said that there are hawala operators based in Srinagar, New Delhi and other parts of the country.

Companies to monitor on this matter:

TRISON Group of companies (controlled by Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali (A-10) and his son Yasir Gaffar Watali):
TRISON FARMS AND CONSTRUCTIONS PRIVATE LIMITED (CIN U02001JK1999PTC002008)
Babaco Home Textile Private Limited (CIN U17100JK2012PTC003607), shares same e-mail address with TRISON Group
Financial accounting services to TRISON Group were provided by Wizkid Consultancy & Financial Services

Companies at the same phisical address:
SHAHCO SURGICALS PRIVATE LIMITED (CIN U33112JK1998PTC001905)
CONFERENCE CONSULTANTS AND ORGANIZERS PRIVATE LIMITED (CIN U74140JK1986PTC000903)
SUN AMBAL IMPEX PRIVATE LIMITED (CIN U51399JK1985PTC000810)
ANANTNAG SHEET GLASS LIMITED (CIN U26101JK1985PLC000766)
AFFABLE INFO MEDIA PRIVATE LIMITED (CIN U72200JK2002PTC002206)
KASHMIR BOARD MILLS PRIVATE LIMITED (CIN U20211JK1976PTC000411)
SHAHANSHAH TRANSPORT COMPANY LIMITED (CIN U64210JK2000PLC002052)
WULAR INVESTIGATORS PRIVATE LIMITED (CIN U74140JK1992PTC001280)
FLOATING PALACES PRIVATE LIMITED (CIN U55100JK1984PTC000656)

Sources:

  1. https://m.dailyhunt.in/news/india/english/u4uvoice-epaper-uvoice/hizbul+mujahideen+chief+s+eldest+son+shakeel+arrested+in+terror+funding+case-newsid-95761544
  2. Primary source, pdf: Zahoor_Ahmad_Shah_Watali_vs_National_Investigating_Agency_on_13_September,_2018
  3. http://risingkashmir.com/news/incarcerated-shahid-ul-islams-daughters-write-to-modi – Letter to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi from daughters of separatist leader Advocate Shahid Ul Islam

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