Yash Goyal

Jaipur, November 17

Rajasthan Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested an alleged hawala operator, who used to fund Islamic State (IS) commanders, from Fatehpur town in Sikar district on Wednesday.

The accused, Jamil Ahmed (42), has allegedly been funding top IS commanders in Syria and Iraq through hawala network in Lebanon and money transfer companies, Additional Director General of ATS Umesh Mishra told The Tribune on Thursday.

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Preliminary investigation revealed that he had recently transferred lakhs of rupees to IS commanders through multiple transactions, as his network was spread in several cities of India and Bangladesh, the ADG said.

A case under various Sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was lodged against Ahmed, who was brought to Jaipur for being produced before a court, he added.

Ahmed was alleged to be living in Dubai since 2003 and used to donate money for relief measures in Syria through welfare organisations.

Currently the accused was working as senior finance manager at a Dubai-based construction company.

Ahmed came to India 15 days ago to apply for passport for his two children. The ATS called him under the pretext of passport verification in Fatehpur on Wednesday, and took him to Jaipur for further questioning.

The accused holds B.Com and MBA degrees.

ATS and other intelligence agencies spotted the top hawala head a few months ago and put surveillance at his Fatehpur residence.

He used to receive donations from India and Bangladesh via hawala in Dubai.

Ahmed also posted comments on radical social media websites asking people to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Two laptops, one mobile phone and a pen drive were recovered from the accused, ATS SP Vikas Kumar, who is leading the probe, said.