India
oi-Gaurav Sharma
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a 24-year-old man on charges of having links with Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and allegedly transferring funds to Pakistan, authorities said.
The accused, Mohammad Zafar, a resident of Mirganj village in Bihar’s Purnia district, was arrested by the UP ATS on August 16. The accused is said to have collected donations in the name of a madrasa and transferred the amount to a Pakistan-based terrorist organisation to fund jihad.
Uttar Pradesh ATS arrested Mohammad Zafar on August 16 for alleged links to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, including transferring funds via USDT and spreading jihad-related content.
According to the Uttar Pradesh ATS, after combing through Zafar’s social media posts, the accused was found to have posted “provocative content” and speeches by JeM chief Masood Azhar. The investigators alleged that he was spreading messages “to lure people into the path of jihad”.
The ATS stated that Zafar had studied in a madrasa in Meerut and was influenced by “jihad-related content” and the “martyrdom of JeM terrorists”. During the interrogation, he allegedly confessed that he was influenced by Masood Azhar and wanted to be a “mujahid”.
The investigators also allegedly found out from his phone about several Pakistan-based jihadi WhatsApp groups. The accused is said to have shared “jihad-related content” and fundraising messages on the encrypted app.
The authorities alleged that Zafar had a Facebook account on which he shared content related to jihad and the creation of a caliphate while keeping his real identity hidden. He is also said to have joined a JeM-linked group and interacted with a Pakistan-based handler.
As per the Uttar Pradesh ATS, the handler provided Zafar with a Pakistani bank account to transfer funds. However, the transaction did not go through, and the accused allegedly opened a Binance account and, with Pakistan-based handlers, sent money to Pakistan in the form of USDT several times.
A case has been filed against Zafar under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other laws. The accused has been produced before the court, and his links with Pakistan, fundraising activities, and interactions with Pakistan-based handlers are being probed.
