Fayaz Wani By

Express News Service

SRINAGAR: Contradicting Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s statement that demonetization ended stone pelting in Kashmir, the PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday said there was no impact of demonetization on unrest in the Valley.

“The State government has not received any report so far on effects of demonetization on the recent unrest in the Valley,” J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who also holds the Home portfolio, said in a written reply in State’s Legislative Assembly in Jammu, winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

She was responding to a question by State BJP president and MLA Sat Paul Sharma. The MLA had sought information from government on the effects of the demonetization on the recent unrest in the Valley.

The CM in her written reply also revealed that no case has been received about fake currency being used for generating violence during the unrest.

Kashmir witnessed over five months long unrest after killing of 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces in South Kashmir’s Kokernag area on July 8.

After his killing, the Kashmir used to witness dozens of incidents of protests and stone pelting every day. At least 94 people including two policemen were killed and over 13000 injured during the five month long unrest.

On the call of separatists, Valley observed continuously shutdown for over four months. However, with the improvement in situation, the protests and stone pelting subsided and separatists scaled down the “protest and shutdown” calendar.

The State government’s today’s statement is contrary to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

On November 14, a week after Prime Minister announced scrapping of Rs 500 and 1000 notes, Parrikar had stated that since the demonetization, terror funding has come down to zero and there hasn’t been stone-pelting on security forces in Kashmir.

“In the last few days after PM’s daring move, there hasn’t been stone pelting on security forces. Earlier, there were rates: Rs 500 for stone pelting (on security forces in Kashmir) and Rs 1,000 for doing something else. PM has brought terror funding to zero,” Parrikar had said.

Meanwhile, the State government informed the Legislative Assembly today that hawala money was being used to fund militant activities and 173 hawala cases were registered in the State in last 15 years.

"As per reports from CID, hawala channels are being used to fund militant violence in the state. Since 2001, 173 hawala cases have been registered,” the government disclosed.

It stated that of the 173 cases, 90 cases have been challaned, 45 cases are under investigation, nine cases were untraced and six not admitted

“The sanction is awaited in 23 cases,” added the government.