JnK: ED attaches assets in MBBS seats scam

Jammu & Kashmir- Recently the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached 7 properties worth Rs 5 crore in Kashmir Valley. This property is suspected of belonging to some people associated with terrorist groups. It has been alleged that these terror suspects were arranging MBBS admissions for Kashmiri students in Pakistan by charging commissions of Rs 10-15 lakh from each candidate and funnelling the same for terror activities in the Valley and funding stone pelters, said ED on Wednesday.

Besides this, the ED has also attached two bank accounts in the name of Muhammad Akbar Bhat alias Zafar Akbar Bhat, Fatima Shah, Qazi Yasir, Muhammad Abdullah Shah and Muhammad Iqbal Mir. The accused have been attached under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. Earlier, they were also booked by Jammu and Kashmir Police, with a charge sheet filed against him related to alleged funding of terrorist activities.

Speaking to the Times of India, ED has said “Investigation revealed that the money was received in their personal accounts and the accounts of Al-Jabar Trust, a charitable organisation, and further used for terrorist activities, including disbursing money to stone pelters and terrorists operating in Kashmir”.

During the investigation, the police also found out that the average price of an MBBS seat was between Rs 10 to 12 lakh. According to the Deccan Chronicle media news report, the police stated that “In some cases, the price was brought down on sifarish (recommendation) of Hurriyat leaders. In other words, depending upon the political heft of a Hurriyat leader who intervened, concessions were extended to the aspiring student and his family”.

Police also further stated, “However, these accounts were used to receive funds from the students and further ploughed into the terrorist activities in India in various ways such as distributing money to stone pelters, providing money to the persons/terrorists based in J&K on the instructions of Pakistan handlers such as Manzoor Ahmad Shah and Altaf Ahmad Bhat”.