NIA conducts raids at multiple locations in Hizbul Mujahideen narco-terror funding case

A senior NIA official said the raids were conducted today at the premises of suspect Manpreet Singh, the resident of Kala Afghana, Teja Khurd, Batala in Amritsar district.

"Manpreet is alleged to be “a close associate of charge-sheeted accused Ranjit Singh aka Cheetah and Iqbal Singh alias Shera in connection with the case," he said.

"During investigation, it was revealed that Manpreet Singh, a hawala operator, had collected heroin, drug proceeds and weapons and transported them in his i 20 and Verna car as per directions of accused Ranjit Singh. Further, Manpreet Singh delivered the drugs proceeds to the tune of Rs. 35 lakh and weapons to the charge-sheeted accused Bikram Singh alias Vicky, relative of Ranjeet Singh during the month of March, 2020," the official further said.

The case relates to the arrest of Hilal Ahmad Shergojri, an Over Ground Worker of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and a close associate of Riyaz Ahmed Naikoo, the then commander of the terror outfit, who had come to Amritsar to collect the funds to further the terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir wherein Rs 29 lakhs along with a Tata truck was seized from the accused on April 25, 2020 by Punjab Police.

This case was originally registered on Apr 25, 2020 at Police Station Sadar, Amritsar City under various sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act – UAPA, the NIA official said, adding that subsequently sections of NDPS Act were added during investigation.

The case was re-registered by NIA on May 8, 2020 and taken up for investigation. NIA has filed charge sheets against 11 accused persons at a special court in Mohali in the case, the probe agency said.