Delhi cops bust J-K hawala racket,net Geelani ‘aide’

The Delhi Police,in a joint operation with their J-K counterparts,has arrested a lawyer and his two accomplices for hawala transaction and recovered over Rs 21 lakh from their possession. The police claim that the lawyer is an active member the of Syed Ali Shah Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference.

“A joint team of the J-K Police and the Delhi Police arrested three persons — advocate Ghulam Mohammad Bhat,Farooq Ahmad Dagga and Ghulam Jeelani Leelu — from Srinagar,” SSP Aashiq Bukhari said. “A Maruti car and hawala money amounting to more than Rs 21 lakh were recovered from their possession,” he said.

Sources said the sleuths of the Delhi Police’s Special Cell had arrived in the Valley a few days ago and sought the help of the state police to bust the hawala network. After the tip-off from the Delhi Police,the joint team tracked the movement of the three accused.

On Saturday,the team laid a trap and arrested the trio. The Delhi Police has registered an FIR (No 4 of 2011) under Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and Section 17 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act against the three accused at the Special Cell police station.