New Delhi: Terrorist outfits with the help of Pakistan Intelligence agencies are pushing money through Bitcoin channel in Jammu and Kashmir. This is being done to trigger mass agitation and violence in Kashmir. The case pertaining to terror financing via Bitcoin trade is being investigated by the J&K’s police wing State Investigate Agency.
Pakistan Intelligence involved
Top officials of the SIA told News24 that the mastermind of this module is in Pakistan. He is pumping money to their agents in J&K. This is done with the active support of Pakistan intelligence agencies. This is also in connivance with proscribed terrorist outfits based in Pakistan. The money is further distributed among terrorists, secessionists for fueling mass violence and terror activities in J&K.
SIA conducts multiple search ops
This is for the first time, the State Investigation Agency of J&K Police said that Bitcoin channels used to push dirty money into J&K. Officials told News24 that SIA of J&K Police today conducted a series of searches at multiple locations across Jammu & Kashmir.
House premises of suspects in Mendhar, Poonch, Baramulla, Kupwara and Handwara were searched. This was in connection with a case registered in Counter Intelligence Police Station in Srinagar.
SIA identifies Pakistani mastermind
Officials in the SIA said that the Pakistani mastermind has been comprehensively identified. The specific details, however, is being kept confidential as other agents connected with him are not alerted.
House of these people were raided
During today’s raid in Jammu and Kashmir, premises of those searched by SIA have been identified as Ms. Zahida Bano, Ghulam Mujataba Deedad of Kupwara, Tamjeeda Begum of Handwara, Yasir Ahmad Mir, Mohammad Sayed Masoodi of Baramulla, Farooq Ahmad of Mandi Poonch and Imran Chowdhary of Mendhar.
Money being transferred using loopholes in trading system
Officials said that during the Preliminary investigation it was revealed that the money originating from Pakistan has reached to these people. The transfer of money has been layered to prevent backward tracing of its origin, the investigation has revealed. There are several accounts in between that have been used to layer the money, are outside J&K.
Officials said that the effective whitewashing of the Pakistani money has taken place through exploitation of loopholes in the international bitcoin trade.
During searches conducted today, incriminating material believed to be hidden in digital devices, SIM cards, Mobile Phones and documents have been seized. The analysis of the data and questioning of suspects would continue in the case.
