Nationwide NIA Crackdown Targets Alleged Terror Funding and Radical Network

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), along with state police and central security forces, carried out simultaneous raids at 20 locations across 10 states on Wednesday as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged terror funding and radicalisation case. According to officials, the searches were conducted in Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Bihar, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Gujarat, Telangana and West Bengal. The operation is linked to a terror-related radicalisation case registered by the NIA's Visakhapatnam (VSKP) branch. Officials said the investigation originated from the arrest of an alleged radicalised individual, Mohammad Rahmatullah Sharif, by Vijayawada Police on March 22. The searches were conducted at five locations in Uttar Pradesh, four in Andhra Pradesh, three in Maharashtra, two in Delhi, and one location each in Bihar, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Gujarat, Telangana and West Bengal. In Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, the NIA searched the residences of cosmetics businessman Abdul Qadir and his two brothers, Faizal and Bilal. The three are facing allegations related to hawala transactions, terror funding and money laundering. A team from Visakhapatnam carried out coordinated searches at all three premises simultaneously on Wednesday morning. The operation is currently underway in the Inta Rodi area of the city. Officials stated that a large amount of cash was recovered from the residences of Abdul Qadir and his brothers. Currency-counting machines were brought to the site, while police personnel from two police stations were deployed outside the premises as officials counted the seized cash. Security agencies sealed the Inta Rodi locality and surrounding areas during the operation. Public movement into or out of the search locations was restricted while the raids were in progress. Meanwhile, NIA officials also launched search operations in the Vinchipeta area of Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. Investigators said the case, recently transferred to the NIA, involves alleged links to terrorist activities. Earlier in April, Mohammad Rahmatullah Sharif (23), Mohammad Danish (27), Mirza Sohel Beg (23), all residents of Vijayawada, along with Syeda Begum (38) of Hyderabad and Abdul Salam from Ballari, Karnataka, were arrested in connection with the case. According to investigators, they had allegedly shared details of plans related to carrying out terrorist activities in India. As part of the ongoing investigation, NIA officials are searching the accused persons' residences to determine whether they had links with any other individuals or organisations. Investigators had earlier found that the accused were allegedly working under the directions of a foreign handler identified as Al-Hakim Shakoor to expand the activities of AQIS and ISIS in India. According to the investigation, the accused had formed a group called "Al-Malik Islamic Youth" and reportedly admitted that they had developed jihadist tendencies from an early stage, which allegedly became stronger after coming into contact with Shakoor. Investigators further alleged that, under his instructions, the group was attempting to expand AQIS and ISIS activities in the country and was also trying to radicalise young people to carry out suicide attacks. A case has been registered against the accused at Vijayawada Two Town Police Station under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act. The FIR names 12 accused from multiple states, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Delhi, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra and West Bengal.