The ongoing turmoil in Kashmir may not have been triggered by public sentiments alone but was also fuelled by hawala money distributed among the stone-pelting mob by OGWs linked to terror groups.
The ongoing turmoil in Kashmir may not have been triggered by public sentiments alone but was also fuelled by hawala money distributed among the stone-pelting mob by OGWs linked to terror groups. This has been mentioned in a classified report by the Central intelligence agencies that are closely monitoring the security situation in the Valley.
The report states that nearly Rs 10 crore of hawala money has already been routed to the Valley and they are looking into the role of some Mumbai and Delhi-based operators.
As many as 36 people have died while more than 200 have been injured in unprecedented violence in Kashmir since Saturday following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
“A number of stone pelters who have been attacking the security forces have been paid money by the OGWs or sympathisers of terror outfits and the this is not merely a spontaneous reaction of the people in the Valley,” says the report, details of which have been examined by this newspaper.
Intelligence sources said it is suspected that most of the money was routed through countries in the Middle East where terror groups like Lashkar-e-Tayyeba have a strong network of fund raisers.
The possibility of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ICI) having routed some money through its operatives using the hawala network is also not being ruled out. The Central intelligence agencies have launched a major investigation into these aspects.
Intelligence officials have already informed the Centre that an agitation of the magnitude being witnessed in the Valley was not possible without strong financial support by some subversive elements. It is after a gap of nearly six years that largescale violence has erupted in the Valley again, the previous being in 2010 in which almost 100 persons had died.
Heavy security deployment and restrictions in and around Srinagar on Friday ensured that the region remained by and large peaceful except an attack on a police station in Kulgam as the Centre was extremely sceptical that the mob may resort to violence after the Friday prayers. Mobile and internet services are remained suspended in the Valley.
The Home Ministry is closely monitoring the situation in the Valley and Home Minister Rajnath Singh along with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval again held a security review meeting on Friday. Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi as well as senior security and intelligence officials were also present at the meeting.
-"Unprecedented security deployment has been made in the Valley and we are hopeful that normalcy would be restored in the next couple of days. Restrictions will remain in place in sensitive areas till we are absolutely sure about the situation. Mobile and internet services will also be restored in a phased manner as these are often used as a major tool by trouble makers,’’a senior Home Ministry official said.
