The State Investigation Agency (SIA) apprehended Shabroza Bano, the wife of Sarjan Ahmad Wagay, also known as ‘Barkati,’ from South Kashmir. Both individuals have been implicated in terrorist financing through the collection of funds via crowd sourcing.
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Case FIR No 02/2023 U/S 13,17,18,21,39,40 UA(P) Act, 120-B IPC of police station, SIA pertains to the involvement of Barkati family in orchestrating an extensive fund-raising campaign through crowd funding, resulting in the generation of funds amounting to crores, SIA said in a statement cited by news agency KDC, adding that these funds were subsequently misused, involving money laundering and acquisition of undisclosed assets for propagation of radicalism within the Kashmir valley.
While Sarjan Barkati was arrested in August this year, his wife Shabroza Bano has been evading arrest after her role surfaced in the case. During the investigation of SIA Shabroza Bano came out as one of the conspirators and was found hand in glove with her husband and Pak based terror handlers in the terror funding case. The investigation reveals that Shabroza Bano has remained in constant contact with Pakistani handlers through encrypted messaging platforms. Consequently, she was arrested today on 24.11.2023, they said.
Barkati and his family had managed to raise approximately Rs 1.74 crores through crowd funding campaigns. These funds were raised for personal gains and a significant portion of the collected funds was allegedly misused for undisclosed purposes, including financing of secessionist and terrorist activities. A substantial portion of the acquired funds had been deposited in various Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDRs) under the names of Barkati’s family members, raising questions about the legitimacy of the sources and utilization of the funds.
Pertinent to mention that the main accused in the case Sarjan Barkati was a prominent figure in organizing large-scale protests, rallies, and clashes with security forces in 2016 the agency said. During that period he was instrumental in abetting youth to storm security forces establishments for which more than 30 FIRs were registered against him in various police stations of the valley, the statement added.
