GUWAHATI: The arrest of four Hizbul Mujahideen operatives within 48 hours in the state has thrown the focus on counterfeit currency notes which are being used in terror funding. Assam Police suspect that huge caches of fake Indian currency notes (FICN), which are being used to fund terror activities in the region, have come from across the India-Bangladesh border."Seizures of counterfeit currency in the state has been at an all-time high, with Assam Police having registered at least 206 FICN-related cases since the beginning of 2017," an Assam police report stated. In 2016, only 63 such cases were recorded. "The arrests of Hizbul Mujahideen operatives have forced police to look into the nexus between rising militant activities in the region and FICN racketeers along the international borders," police sources said.An ongoing investigation following the arrests of over 50 operatives of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in the state has revealed a clear link between the FICN racketeers and militant outfits. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is working closely with the state police, is trying to trace the money trails of these fake notes . NIA investigators have found that most of these counterfeit currency notes were circulated at mandis (wholesale markets) where millions keep getting circulated in currency transactions before they reach banks.Police sources said, "A clear pattern has emerged on the route that these fake notes follow once it enters Assam from Bangladesh. A huge chunk of these notes are circulated to places across Uttar Pradesh while some of it has been traced to to southern states, particularly in locations where Islamic terror outfits function."Most of these fake currency rackets are in districts of South Salmara-Mankachar, Dhubri, Hailakandi, Cachar and Karbi Anglong, all of which lie in close proximity to the Bangladesh. Many of these notes also enter Assam from Mizoram and Tripura Many militants have been held with fake currency notes in the state, thus revealing the nexus between these rackets and militant activities in the states. "FICN worth Rs 1 lakh were sold for Rs 40,000-50,000, attracting local criminals and militant cadres. Last year, FICNs with a face value of Rs 14 lakh were seized in the state," sources said.Just a few days ago, Assam Police bust an FICN racket and arrested three persons in Hailkalandi and Darrang districts.

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