J&K SIA Seizes Property of Hizbul Mujahideen Terrorist Kifayat Rizvi in Budgam

In a significant move against terror financing, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) of Jammu and Kashmir attached the immovable property of Kifayat Rizvi, a top militant linked to Hizbul Mujahideen. This action took place in the Budgam district, targeting a piece of land measuring one kanal and three marlas in Sharifabad, HMT Srinagar. Rizvi, currently based in Pakistan, has been implicated in numerous terror-related activities and funding operations.

The SIA's operation came under the orders of the 3rd Additional Sessions Judge, Jammu, who also oversees the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court. The agency's statement revealed that Rizvi was deeply involved in terror funding, directing funds through his over-ground worker (OGW) Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, who was arrested in connection with this case. The SIA had filed a supplementary chargesheet against both Bhat and Rizvi on December 5, 2022.

Rizvi's activities are part of a broader network aimed at financing terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir. The case, registered under FIR No. 73/2022, began with the arrest of Mohammad Shareef Shah, who was caught with a substantial amount of narco-terror cash. The investigation indicated that these funds were intended to support separatist activities in Jammu, orchestrated by agents linked to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

The SIA's crackdown extended beyond Rizvi and Bhat, encompassing a wide array of individuals and operations. Among the accused were Mohammad Hussain Khateeb, another Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist from Doda, and former J&K minister Jatinder Singh, also known as Babu Singh. The agency submitted one primary and four supplementary chargesheets before the designated NIA court in Jammu, implicating eighteen individuals in total. Twelve of these suspects were arrested by the SIA, while six, including Rizvi, remain at large in Pakistan, now declared proclaimed offenders by the court.

The SIA's ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorist activities include plans to attach more properties linked to terrorists operating from Pakistan. This strategy aims to undermine the financial foundations of these groups, thereby weakening their operational capabilities in the region.

This latest action by the SIA highlights the continued efforts of the Indian authorities to combat terrorism and secure the region's stability. By targeting the financial assets of key operatives, the agency hopes to significantly disrupt the support systems that enable terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir.