Pramesh S Jain
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted searches at eight locations across Bengaluru in connection with an ISIS recruitment case, officials said.
They said about eight locations in and around Bengaluru were raided by the central agency.
The action is being undertaken as per the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The investigation stems from a National Investigation Agency (NIA) FIR related to ISIS recruitment involving Iqra Welfare Trust,Guidance for Mankind and certain individuals.
The NIA registered the FIR under Sections 17 (raising of funds for terror),18 (preparatory acts for terrorism) and 18B (recruitment of persons for terror) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
According to reports four accused were arrested, following which the NIA filed a chargesheet naming Irfan Nasir, Ahamed Abdul Cader, Mohd Tauqir Mahmood, Zuhab Hameed Shakeel Manna and Mohd Shihab as accused.
The NIA has chargesheeted five persons alleging that the accused– all affiliated with the banned terrorist organisation ISIS/ISIL/Daesh– entered into a criminal conspiracy to radicalise and motivate impressionable Muslim youth of Bengaluru to join the ISIS.
These accused identified,radicalised,and recruited youths through a Muslim”personality development” workshop called ‘Iqra Camp’ and a weekly study circle called “Quran Circle”that grew out of it,raised and channelled funds,and facilitated the illegal travel of recruits to Syria via Turkiye to join the ISIS and fight against the government of Syria.
These acts have been mentioned in the NIA chargesheet as “waging war against Syria,an Asiatic Power in alliance with the Government of India.”
The group is also alleged to have exploited sentiments around the anti-CAA/NRC protests to incite Muslims against non-Muslims and to spread ISIS ideology through secure social-media platforms, as per the ED.
The accused raised funding from individuals, trust and from their savings to facilitates illegal travel of Muslim youths to fight for the ISIS,it said.
