India, July 24 -- The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has conducted searches at eight locations in Bengaluru in connection with an alleged Islamic State (ISIS) recruitment and terror funding case, freezing proceeds of crime worth Rs 7.50 lakh and seizing electronic evidence linked to the investigation. The searches were carried out by the ED's Bengaluru Zonal Office on July 21 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The agency said it recovered incriminating electronic devices and digital data during the operation, while Rs 7.50 lakh suspected to be proceeds of crime was frozen in accordance with the law.
The money laundering probe stems from an Enforcement Case Information Report registered by the ED following the FIR filed by the NIA. The case pertains to the alleged ISIS recruitment activities of the Iqra Welfare Trust, Guidance for Mankind (GFM) Trust and several individuals based in Bengaluru. The accused allegedly lured innocent Muslim youths into joining ISIS through programmes such as "Iqra Camp" and "Quran Circle". The agency also alleged that funds were raised to facilitate recruitment and channelled through individuals, trusts and personal sources for the benefit of ISIS operatives in Syria via Turkey. The NIA had earlier arrested Irfan Nasir, Ahamed Abdul Cader, Dr Mohd Tauqir Mahmood and Zuhab Hameed Shakeel Manna, and filed a provisional chargesheet against them. Another accused, Mohd Shihab, remains absconding. The ED said its investigation has found that funds mobilised by the accused and trustees of the Iqra Welfare Trust and GFM Trust were allegedly used to facilitate recruitment activities.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.