NIA to file charge sheet against 10 accused in narco case; Riyaz Naikoo included

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is all set to file a charge sheet on Tuesday against 10 accused in connection with its probe into the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) narco terror case, IANS reported, quoting officials.

The Agency has alleged that the Pakistan-based commanders of the outfit conspired to raise money from India for the banned group.

“Today NIA is filing charge sheet against 10 accused in HM Narco terror case in NIA Special Court at Mohali,” the report quoted an NIA official privy to the investigation as saying.

The official said that arrest of one Hilal Ahmed Wagay along with Rs 29 lakh on April 25, 2020, helped bust the Hizbul Mujahideen narco-funding module.

“It has been established that [the] terrorist gang, in this case, was smuggling, selling and channelising the proceeds to Pakistan through hawala and to Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists in Kashmir via their overground workers and other associates,” the official said.

The official said that the conspiracy between Hizb commanders based in Pakistan and” “terrorist gang in India” was to “raise money” for the banned outfit.

Of the 10 accused being charge-sheeted on Tuesday, seven have been arrested and two are absconding.

One accused Riyaz Naikoo, Hizbul Mujahideen commander, was killed in an encounter with government forces on May 6 this year.

According to top NIA officials, on July 30 this year, the anti-terror probe agency’s sleuths raided the residence of Wagay, a truck driver, who was arrested by Punjab Police on April 25 with over Rs 29 lakh in cash.

“This money was being transported to the Kashmir Valley to be handed over to Naikoo, the chief operational commander of Hizbul Mujahideen. The case has been re-registered and taken over on May 8,” the NIA had said.

Ranjit Singh and his accomplice Iqbal Singh alias Shera are the prime accused in a case registered in connection with 532 kg heroin seizure at the Attari border in June last year by the Customs Department. The narcotic was found hidden in a consignment of rock salt imported from Pakistan.

Ranjit is the key accused in the case that led to the arrest of Halil Ahmed Wagay, a close aide of slain Naikoo. It said Ranjit and his five brothers were involved in smuggling and peddling drugs for years.