Terror Funding: 4 Linked To Hurriyat Arrested For Selling MBBS Seats In Pakistan

Jammu and Kashmir police have arrested four persons linked to Hurriyat for selling MBBS seats in Pakistan for terror funding. Raised funds worth over Rs 4 crore in lieu of admissions.

Jammu and Kashmir Police informed that 57 such cases have been reported. (Representative Image/ Getty)

Terror Funding: Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested four persons linked to Hurriyat in connection with the sale of MBBS seats in Pakistan for terror funding. According to police, funds worth more than Rs 4 crore were raised in lieu of admission to MBBS seats.

According to Jammu and Kashmir Police DGP Dilbagh Singh, the CID investigation revealed that a large number of Kashmiri students were sent to Pakistan by Hurriyat leaders. Investigations even found that there were about 80 cases of MBBS being sent to Pakistan and Rs 10-13 lakh were paid by each to Hurriyat leaders in Srinagar in lieu of each admission, making it a total of about Rs 4 crores.

Police Conduct Raids At Many Places

During the investigation, Police also conducted raids at several places and a lot of evidence was collected in the search including digital records and evidence of money transactions.

Based on the evidence received, four Hurriyat-linked persons identified as Mohammad Akbar Bhat, Fatima Shah, Mohammad Abdullah Shah and Sabzar Ahmed Sheikh were arrested. Investigations revealed that Mohammed Abdullah Shah's brother lives in Pakistan and is an active member of the Hurriyat. Sabazar's brother is also in Pakistan and the two used to collect information from the Pakistani government about free MBBS seats for Kashmiri children and collect money from children in Jammu and Kashmir for admission.

Investigation Underway

According to Dilbagh Singh, this is a huge case of money laundering and terror funding and the case is still under investigation. "We don't have complete data about who has gone to Pakistan to study through the terror funding route and those who have gone on their own. Until it is clear, no child who has gone for education will be held guilty," Singh said. 

Jammu and Kashmir Police also said that 57 cases have been reported in the recent past where Kashmiri youth went on visas but returned as terrorists. Of these, 17 terrorists were killed. 14-15 are still active terrorists, while everyone else has been arrested.

DGP Dilbagh Singh said, "57 is not a fixed number, this number has come to our notice and there may be more cases." Police also said that parents of students studying in Pakistan have welcomed the investigation and said as the money went to the Hurriyat, the matter should be investigated.