New terror tool of Lashkar to fund their appetite for terror – Tiffin Box

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To checkmate security agencies, proscribed pan-Islamic terror outfit, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) is using tiffin boxes to carry hawala money meant for reviving and reactivating terror-related activities in Jammu region.

This new terror modus operandi of Lashkar came to light last month when Jammu Police on July 19 busted a terror-funding module of proscribed organisation LeT carrying Rs 1.5 lakh cash hidden in a tiffin box.

On the basis of information received from military intelligence, the Special Operations Group Jammu Police apprehended one Mubashir Bhat of Doda  – pursuing BSc Nursing course from one of the colleges in Kharar, Chandigarh – with a consignment of Rs 1.5 lakh Indian currency concealed in a tiffin box. Bhat had been tasked by LeT handlers from across the border to visit Jammu and collect a consignment of hawala money for further use by terrorists.

Bhat revealed that the money was sent by Haroon alias Khubaib of the LeT, who was based in Pakistan and it was to be delivered to terrorists through their overground structure based in Doda,” informed Mukesh Singh, IG Jammu.

Interrogation of Bhat finally led Jammu Police to arrest five more people, who were a part of Lashkar’s terror funding racket. They have been identified as Tauqeer Bhat, preacher at Shimal mosque in Doda, Asif Bhat, surrendered terrorist and ex SPO, Khalid Latief, a contractor from Doda, Gazi Iqbal, who works in a poultry shop in Jammu and Tariq Hussein Mir, who runs provision store in Tanta area of Doda. All of them were arrested during a raid at different places.

Three more tiffin boxes have been recovered from their possession. On August 5 following disclosure of Tariq Hussain Mir,  SOG Jammu recovered three more tiffin boxes from his house including Indian currency amounting Rs 40,700, which he received as a consignment .

Lashkar Planning strike on Northern Command Headquater in Udhampur   

Chilling disclosure made by Lashkar operatives has baffled police and other security agencies. During interrogation, they have revealed that besides terror funding, money sent to Lashkar operatives from Pakistan was meant for spying activities. They disclosed of being assigned task of sharing information about the presence of security and their important locations to Pak handlers.  

”For quite some time they had been doing reconnaissance of security installations. Already they have shared pictures of Northern Command headquarter, Nagrota base and Army installation in Uri with their handlers in Pakistan. There is every possibility that Lashkar with the help of ISI might be planning some big terror attack,” said IG Jammu.

Lashkar’s Jammu Plan

To extend the arc of terror, Pakistan with the help of their terror proxies are trying to spread its tentacles in Jammu region. For that, they are trying their level best to resurrect overground network in Doda and Kishtwar belt to help Lashkar cadre smoothly operate in that area. It was with this intent that hawala money was pumped in through different channels to these operatives to revive terror in the region.

Mukesh Singh, IG Jammu further said that, during questioning of these six arrested Lashkar operatives, it has surfaced that they received money amounting to Rs 12,19,704 through different means on different occasions as part of this module. They were tasked to :  

– Identify gullible youth for recruitment in terror ranks

– Providing logistics support and strengthening LeT Cadre.

– Transportation of  arms and ammunition from one location to another

– Distribution of money among the families of active and deceased terrorists

This was the tricky and tough case as it involved dwelling in various ways that the terrorists used to bring in funds into Jammu to foment terror,” said another senior police officer.

Mode of pumping hawala money

Hawala money was sent to these Lashkar operatives from different channels. Safest and best means adopted by Lashkar Commanders sitting across was to hand over a packet of hawala money to a traveller coming to India from Attari-Wagah border on a valid visa. They were told to hand over the packet to an overground worker waiting for them on the Indian side. Then this money was concealed in a tiffin box and brought to Jammu and Kashmir, without anyone getting inkling about it.

These operatives used WhatsApp to stay in touch with their handlers. Moreover,  it has come to notice that the module has its links in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab as well. With their arrest police has unearthed terror financing channels and terror associates network used for providing financial support and motivating youth for sabotaging peace in Jammu and Kashmir.