STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Continuing investigations into the major Hawala racket operating from Pakistan for mushrooming terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, the joint Police teams on Friday raided the house and office of a silent Jamat-e-Islami (JeI) associate Mohd Sharif Sartaj, son of Shams-ul-Din, resident of EP-62, Dalpatian Mohalla, and Rayees Ahmed Malik, resident of Talab Khatikan falling under the jurisdiction of Peer Mitha Police Station.
Mohd Sharif Sartaj, wanted in a number of cases related to fraud, land-grabbing was also running a newspaper Rahemanjil to befool the security agencies.
Neighbourers informed STATE TIMES that Sartaj’s son is working with tourism department.
Mohd Sartaj’s house, office in Dalpatian Mohalla raided
Police team during the investigations of Hawala racket connecting ex-minister Babu Singh, ascertained the illegal and anti-national activities of Sartaj. Accordingly after gathering all data, a raid was conducted at his house and office.
Huge number of incriminating documents, mobile phones, Tabs and SIM cards were seized. All these substantiate Sartaj’s links with Pak sponsored terror groups, said an officer accompanying raiding team.
SSP Jammu Chandan Kohli said that the raids were conducted at the premises of Rayees Ahmed Malik and Mohd Sharif Sartaj in Dalpatian Mohalla and police recovered incriminating documents and material.
Both these accused were also wanted in a case of sedition and rioting registered in 2007 in Jammu when objectionable and sensitive slogans were allegedly raised during a visit of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Jammu Chandan Kohli said the raids were conducted by police teams in the presence of Executive Magistrates.
The house premises of duo were searched by police teams in presence of Executive Magistrate during which several sensitive documents, incriminating material were recovered. The raids were conducted by teams of North and South zone led by Rakesh Kumar SHO City , Sharad Kalu, SDPO North Jammu, Rahul Nagar SDPO West , Sachit Sharma, SDPO South under supervision of Mamta Sharma SP South and Kulbir Handa SP North Jammu.
The seized material includes Jamaat-e-Islami (Banned Organisation) literature related to Doda region, forms for medical admission in Pakistan, a report regarding a person namely Abdul Rehman, a Pak national, who visited the area and was later deported, literature related to so-called Jammu Kashmir freedom movement, a phone diary containing Pakistan numbers, cash register regarding various accounts , an identity card pertaining to Iran, photographs with Jamaat e Islami leaders, meeting notices regarding so-called Jammu Kashmir freedom movement and stamps.
SSP Jammu Chandan Kohli said that a fresh case at Police Station Peer Mitha (27/2022) under sections 10,13 and 39 of UAPA has been registered over recovery of incriminating material related to a banned organisation and further investigation and legal proceedings into the matter are going on.
Mohd Sartaj along with a few local associates are involved in land grabbing. The government land has been allegedly sold to many innocent buyers in Jammu by Sartaj to earn crores of rupees.
In another case, on May 15, 2020, Crime Branch Jammu had registered FIR against accused Mohd Sharif Sartaj, son of Shams-ul-Din, resident of EP-62 Peer Mitha Jammu, Ishwar Dass, son of Nar Singh, resident of Gali Devi Dawara Peer Mitha, Jammu, Kuldeep Mahajan and Rakesh Kumar Mahajan both sons of Duni Chand resident of F-95 Dhakki Sarajan Jammu for conspiring and forging Revenue record of 4 Kanals and 7 Marlas State land located at Rakh Bahu, Tehsil Jammu and thereby cheating /duping the buyer, after entering into an ‘agreement to sell’, of his hard earned money to the tune of Rs. 18 lakh by fraudulent means.
Sartaj, having political links managed to go scot-free despite the registration of FIR. However, during the investigations of the Hawala racket that too by joint police teams, Sartaj failed to use his political connections and a raid was conducted at his house and office today.
Sources said the seized material and the electronic gadgets are being scrutinized to investigate further. So far his links with the Jamat-e-Islami have been established, sources alleged.