Terror Fund: A fire in a cash-laden truck in Kashmir

A day before polls, stashes of cash were burnt after a truck ferrying currency notes mysteriously caught fire in Qazigund area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

The driver and conductor jumped to safety but the truck suffered major damages.During the fire-fighting operation, bundles of burnt cash were recovered from the truck, besides other material. Both were seized by police.Police said the truck, on its way to Jammu from Srinagar, was carrying scrap and was being driven by Nazir Ahmad Rather along with conductor Inamul Haq.

“Some burnt currency notes were found near the site of the incident along with charred scrap. A case under relevant sections of law has been filed and further investigation in the matter is going on. Both driver and the conductor of the truck remain at the police station for investigation,” said a police spokesman.

The incident took political overtones with the first phase of election in Anantnag being held on Tuesday. Spread over four districts, the poll in the single LS constituency of Anantnag is being held in three phases given the high level of penetration of terrorists and a precarious law and order situation.

PDP president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, who is one of the 18 candidates from Anantnag constituency, demanded a high-level probe into the incident.

“Alarming, authorities must conduct a thorough investigation to ascertain how and why trucks are being used to carry cash for poll distribution. That too a day before Anantnag votes. This is a good lesson to those who think votes can be purchased by bribes,” Mehbooba tweeted.