98 arrested for pumping hawala money in JK since 2009

The arrests were made in connection with the Hawala money over the past two and a half years and Rs 1.23 crore in Indian currency were recovered from them, the state government today informed the Legislative Assembly.

Of the arrested persons, 48 were found misusing trade across the Line of Control (LoC) and Rs 73,34,410 along with encashed cheque worth Rs one lakh have been recovered from them.

The highest number of 66 arrests were made in 2009 and Rs 77 lakh was recovered that year. Only 15 persons were arrested and nearly Rs 10 lakh seized from them in 2010 - the year when Kashmir witnessed massive separatist sponsored protests ringing normal life to almost standstill between June and October, leaving nearly 120 persons dead.

As many as 17 persons were arrested till July this year and Rs 36,17,000 were recovered from them, the government said replying to a question by Chaman Lal Gupta (BJP) regarding recovery of hawala money in the state.

The money was meant for Hurriyat Conference, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Islamic Students Front, Mass Movement, Peoples Conference, Mahaz-e-Azadi and Democratic Freedom Party besides militant outfits - Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashker-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Al-Badr, Harkat-ul- Mujahideen, Al-Umer, Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen, Al-Burq and Islamic Front.