ED searches eight Bengaluru sites in ISIS recruitment money trail probe
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted searches at eight locations across Bengaluru as part of a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged ISIS
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted searches at eight locations across Bengaluru as part of a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged ISIS recruitment and terror funding module, officials said. The searches were carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) registered on the basis of a Investigation Agency (NIA) FIR related to ISIS recruitment involving the Iqra Welfare Trust, Guidance for Mankind (GFM) Trust and certain individuals based in Bengaluru. Read Full Story According to the ED, the probe has revealed that funds routed through the Iqra Welfare Trust and GFM Trust were allegedly used to finance and facilitate the recruitment of vulnerable individuals into the banned terrorist organisation ISIS.
The NIA had earlier registered an FIR under Sections 17 (raising funds for terrorist acts), 18 (conspiracy and preparatory acts for terrorism) and 18B (recruitment of persons for terrorist acts) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Four accused were arrested during the investigation, following which the agency filed a chargesheet naming Irfan Nasir, Ahamed Abdul Cader, Mohd. Tauqir Mahmood, Zuhab Hameed Shakeel Manna and Mohd. Shihab as accused. According to the NIA chargesheet, the accused, all allegedly affiliated with the banned terrorist organisation ISIS/ISIL/Daesh, entered into a criminal conspiracy to radicalise and recruit impressionable Muslim youth from Bengaluru to join ISIS.
The chargesheet alleges that the accused identified, radicalised and recruited youths through a Muslim "personality development" workshop called Iqra Camp and a weekly study circle called Quran Circle. They allegedly raised and channelled funds and facilitated the illegal travel of recruits to Syria via Turkey to join ISIS and fight against the Syrian government. The NIA described these actions in its chargesheet as amounting to "waging war against Syria, an Asiatic Power in alliance with the Government of India." The accused are also alleged to have exploited sentiments surrounding the anti-CAA/NRC protests to incite Muslims against non-Muslims and spread ISIS ideology through encrypted social media platforms.
According to the ED, the accused allegedly raised funds from individuals, trusts and their personal savings to facilitate the illegal travel of recruits to Syria to fight for ISIS. The agency is now probing the financial trail to determine how funds were mobilised, routed and used to support the alleged recruitment network. Further investigation is underway. Ends Additional inputs from PTI
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