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Barack Obama administration knowingly gave US aid money to Al-Qaeda affiliate, says Senate Committee report

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Barack Obama administration knowingly gave US aid money to Al-Qaeda affiliate, says Senate Committee report

Former US President Barack Obama’s administration knowingly funded an organisation that had an affiliation with Islamic terror outfit al-Qaeda, said a Senate Committee report. The Senate Committee report is based on a probe by the office of the Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) into the Obama administration’s approval of a $200,000 grant to a US evangelical aid organisation – ‘World Vision’, that had links with the al-Qaeda affiliate, Islamic Relief Agency (ISRA).

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley recently released a report detailing the findings of an investigation his staff began in February 2019 into the relationship between World Vision and ISRA.

The investigation by the Senator and his team has found that World Vision was not aware that ISRA had been sanctioned by the US from 2004 for funnelling roughly $5 million to Maktab al-Khidamat, the predecessor to Al-Qaeda controlled by Osama Bid Laden.

However, that ignorance was born from insufficient vetting practices, the report said. “World Vision works to help people in need across the world, and that work is admirable,” Senator Grassley said in a statement.

“Though it may not have known that ISRA was on the sanctions list or that it was listed because of its affiliation with terrorism, it should have. Ignorance can’t suffice as an excuse. World Vision’s changes in vetting practices are a good first step, and I look forward to its continued progress,” the report said.

Obama adminstration released funds even after being aware of terror-links: Report

Reportedly, the investigation by Senator Grassley was prompted after an article published by National Review in 2018 in which Sam Westrop, the director of the Middle East Forum’s Islamist Watch, had detailed MEF’s findings that the Obama administration had approved a “$200,000 grant of taxpayer money to ISRA.”

The Obama administration had specifically authorized the release of at least $115,000 of this grant even after learning that it was a designated terror organization, Westrop wrote.

According to the Senate report, World Vision had submitted a grant application to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to carry out its Blue Nile Recovery Program on January 21, 2014. The proposed program sought to provide food security, sanitation equipment, and health services to areas hard-hit by conflict in the Blue Nile region of Sudan.

Following the proposal, USAID had awarded World Vision a $723,405 grant for the program. Later that month, ISRA too agreed to provide humanitarian services to parts of the Blue Nile Region for World Vision. The two organizations had also collaborated on several projects in 2013 and 2014.

World Vision only discovered ISRA was sanctioned after the Evangelical humanitarian non-profit discussed partnering with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on a separate humanitarian project in Sudan, the report claimed. In September 2014, World Vision’s legal department was also notified of ISRA’s potential status as a sanctioned entity and immediately halted all payments to the organization.

Reportedly, one month later, World Vision submitted another request for a license to transact with ISRA to pay them $125,000 for services rendered. On May 4, 2015, the Obama administration’s State Department recommended OFAC grant World Vision’s request for the license to transact with al-Qaeda linked ISRA.

The report said the investigation “did not find any evidence that World Vision intentionally sought to circumvent US sanctions by partnering with ISRA.”

In its report, the Senate committee report concluded that World Vision had “access to the appropriate public information and should have known how, but failed to, properly vet ISRA as a sub-grantee, resulting in the transfer of US taxpayer dollars to an organisation with an extensive history of supporting terrorist organisations and terrorists, including Osama Bin Laden.”

World Vision also part of alliance that funds terror inside India

Incidentally, World Vision works in India as well and also is part of ‘InterAction’, America’s largest alliance of international non-profit organisations. Last year, it was revealed how the US government agencies have been funding the Islamic charities linked to terror groups based in Pakistan and the Middle East through InterAction.

InterAction’s Together Project involves the most controversial Islamic charities including Helping Hand for Relief & Development (HHRD), which works with the charitable and political wings of Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistani terror organisations that direct terror against India in Kashmir. 

‘Modi Hai to Mumkin Hain’: US Sec of State Mike Pompeo praises EAM Jaishankar for stronger US-India ties

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‘Modi Hai to Mumkin Hain’: US Sec of State Mike Pompeo praises EAM Jaishankar for stronger US-India ties

Mike Pompeo, the outgoing Secretary of State of United States, on Wednesday, said that the USA and India have “never been closer” as it is today and praised External Affairs minister S Jaishankar for improved relationship between the two democracies.

Taking to Twitter, Pompeo, describing Foreign Minister S Jaishankar as “my friend” and “great diplomat”, said the relationship between the two natural allies strengthened from trade to military cooperation and also in more areas.

Interestingly, Mike Pompeo also hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi by tweeting the clarion call of – ‘Modi Hain to Mumkin Hain’ meaning ‘If it is Modi, it is possible,” underlining the fact that the strong ties between the two countries was made possible under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.

In his tweet linking to a speech he gave in June 2019 during a visit to New Delhi, Pompeo said, “The US relationship with Asia’s most populous democracy has never been closer, from trade to military cooperation and more”.

In that speech, Secretary Pompeo had said, “We each, India and the United States, should see the world as it is, and see each other for what we are: great democracies, global powers, and good friends. We have the ability to forge a new kind of cooperation that won’t just be good for us, but for the region, and indeed for the entire world.”

The outgoing Secretary of State also tweeted about PM Modi’s historical even in Houston, Texas – ‘HowdyModi’.

Secretary Pompeo’s tweet came as President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office of the President of the United States of America on January 20.

Shiv Sena and NCP workers get violent, fight with each other over unauthorised banners in Bhiwandi

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Shiv Sena and NCP workers get violent, fight with each other over unauthorised banners in Bhiwandi

Amidst spiralling tensions between the members of the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance over differences on the renaming of Aurangabad to ‘Sambhaji Nagar’, another incident is being reported from Thane district of Bhiwandi which highlights the growing rift between the Maharashtra government alliance parters. Shiv Sena and NCP workers on Tuesday exchanged blows with each other in front of the Election Commissioner in Bhiwandi.

Clashes erupted between workers of Shiv Sena and NCP  in an election office in Maharashtra’s Bhiwandi on Tuesday. The scuffle broke out after NCP district president Ganesh Gulvi went to file a complaint at the election office against the unauthorised display of banners of its ally—Sena’s candidate.

A bitter altercation soon ensued between the two sides which quickly devolved into a fierce scuffle between Shiv Sena and NCP workers. Though Shiv Sena and NCP are allies in the Maharashtra government, the two parties have been at odds with each other over Bhiwandi Municipal Corporation for a long time.

After Gulvi expressed his opposition to the display of banners of Sena candidate Praveen Gulvi, a fight erupted between the party workers. A video of the incident in which the two sides could be seen hurling abuses and flinging chairs at each other is doing the rounds on the internet.

The Bhiwandi Election Commissioner Dr Sunil Bhalerao took cognisance of the matter and filed a complaint against the sparring groups for obstructing government work. A case has also been registered at the Shantinagar Police station and a probe is underway.

Rift within MVA widens over renaming of Aurangabad as ‘Sambhaji Nagar’

The incident has added to the rumours of widening rift within the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance. Though NCP chief Sharad Pawar had recently assured that the Maharashtra government is stable and any attempts to bring down the government won’t succeed, the latest political churning within Maharashtra suggests otherwise.

The Congress party, another alliance partner within the umbrella of MVA government, has already expressed its disapproval of renaming Aurangabad to ‘Sambhaji Nagar’. The Congress state president Balasaheb Thorat had staunchly opposed the proposal for rechristening of Aurangabad stating that it wasn’t in the Common Minimum Programme of the ruling parties.

However, Shiv Sena deflected Congress’ disapproval and doubled on its efforts to build a consensus to change the name of Aurangabad to ‘Sambhaji Nagar’. In its mouthpiece Saamana, Shiv Sena made a fierce case for the renaming of the city named after Mughal marauder Aurangzeb. It said the Muslims of Maharashtra do not regard Aurangzeb as their uncle. Taking a sly dig at Congress, the article contended that Aurangzeb’s grave, which is located close to Aurangabad, is not a symbol of secularism and those who think it is are making a mockery of India’s identity.

2019 Tabrez Ansari death case: Two stolen mobile phones recovered, thief Arif Ansari arrested

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2019 Tabrez Ansari death case: Two stolen mobile phones recovered, thief Arif Ansari arrested

Seraikela police has reportedly arrested a person named Arif Ansari for allegedly possessing two mobiles phones that were stolen two years ago from a house in Dhatkidih under Seraikeal police station. The incident had gained wide attention after one of the accused named Tabrez Ansari had died in custody due to cardiac arrest. Arif Ansari, who is a resident of Kahamdiha village under Kharsawan police station, was arrested after he had switched on the two stolen phones. The phones were on kept on surveillance by the police since they were stolen in an incident of theft at the houses of Hemsagar Pradhan and Rajesh Pramanik on June 17, 2019. According to Jagran, Arif Ansari deals in sale and purchase of stolen mobile phones. He has been sent jailed several times in similar cases.

What was the case?

In June 2019, the incidents of theft took place at the house of three persons named Hemsagar Pradhan, Rajesh Pramanik and Kamal Mahato. Three culprits were reportedly involved in the theft, out of whom the locals were able to nab one Mohammad Tabrez Ansari. Ansari was brutally beaten by the locals before the police had reached the spot. After reaching there police rescued Ansari and sent him for medical examination. Ansari was accused of trying to steal a bike. The stolen and a few other items were recovered by the police. Three days after the incident, Ansari’s health had deteriorated and he was admitted in a hospital. He was declared dead by doctors in the hospital.

The matter was picked up by national media after Tabrez Ansari’s death was portrayed as a case of mob lynching. The matter was highly politicised and violent protests were carried out by Muslims organisations against Ansari’s death. However, the investigation team set up by the district administration to investigate the cause of Ansari’s death said that he could have died due to stress-induced cardiac arrest. The murder charges were dropped by the police from the charge sheet filed in the case after the autopsy report showed cardiac arrest as the cause of death. However, the murder charges were reinstated after his wife threatened to commit suicide.

Madhya Pradesh: Court denies bail to controversial ‘comedian’ Munawar Faruqui and another accused of hate speech against Hindu deities

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: Court denies bail to controversial ‘comedian’ Munawar Faruqui and another accused of hate speech against Hindu deities

An Additional District and Sessions court in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday denied bail to controversial ‘stand-up’ comedian Munawar Faruqui and another accused who were arrested for making derogatory remarks against Hindu deities and Home Minister Amit Shah during a show held in Indore.

According to the reports, Additional District and Sessions Court judge Yatindra Kumar Guru, hearing the petition filed by the accused, rejected the bail plea.

Opposing the bail plea, prosecution lawyer Vimal Mishra said both the accused had participated in the event for which no permission was taken from the local authorities amidst the pandemic. Mishra said indecent remarks were made against Hindu deities at the event that “full of obscenity despite the presence of minor boys and girls among the audience”.

Meanwhile, Anshuman Shrivastava, the lawyer for Faruqui and Yadav, claimed that the allegations levelled against his clients are “vague” in nature. He said the duo was booked under political pressure.

Earlier, a local court in Indore had rejected the bail pleas of the accused and sent them in judicial custody. Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Aman Singh Bhuria refused to grant bail to Faruqui and other four and remanded them in judicial custody till January 13.

The Madhya Pradesh police had arrested five stand-up comedians for insulting Hindu gods and goddesses in Indore on January 1. The arrested comedians include Munawar Faruqui, Edvin Anthony, Prakhar Vyas, Priyam Vyas and Nalin Yadav.

They were arrested after a Hindu activist group had filed an FIR against them, accusing the alleged comedians of passing vile and disgraceful remarks against Hindu Gods, Goddesses and customs.

Hindu activists handed over Munawar Faruqui to the police

Eklavya Singh Gaur, an activist and the chief of Hindu Rakshak Sangathan, had filed the complaint after watching the show. They had filed the complaint after they heard the “indecent” comments, leading them to force the organisers to stop the program.

The Hindu activist Gaur had also submitted video footage of the show. Gaur had said he and his friends went to watch the show where Faruqui was performing as the main comedian.

“The show mocked Hindu deities by passing indecent comments. The Godhra incident and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were also mentioned inappropriately. We shot a video and stopped the show by taking the audience out of the cafe. Then we caught the comedians and organizers of the show and took them to Tukoganj police station,” the Hindu activist said.

Gaur also said that no physical distancing was maintained at the venue and the show had no permission from authorities. At least 100 viewers were sitting in the small hall of the cafe, he said. Gaur denied media reports that Faruqui was beaten up by the activists of Hind Rakshak.

Munawar Faruqui on 2002 Godhra Carnage, Amit Shah and Hindu Gods

Munawar Faruqui, during a show in April last year, had ridiculed the 2002 Godhra carnage where 58 Hindus returning from Ayodhya were burnt alive by a Muslim mob. In a show, Faruqui had referred to the carnage as a fictional film ‘directed’ by Amit Shah and ‘produced’ by RSS.

“I was watching The Burning Train on TV. My father came and told me not to watch such nonsense and turned off the channel. I was like, ‘why so?’ He was like this is the video of Godhra kaand. And this is a news channel. I thought it is a movie directed by Amit Shah, produced by RSS… I don’t know…,” he said. Munawar Faruqui then referred to the news about 2002 Godhra carnage as ‘cartoon’.

A complaint was also filed against Faruqui after he had used Bollywood songs to make crass, disrespectful remarks on Hindu gods and belief system. He also pointed out how he mocked the brutal massacre of Hindus in the Godhra carnage by claiming, “Marney ke baad jaltay hai na? (Hindus get burnt anyway after death).”

Sonia Gandhi and Mayawati should be awarded Bharat Ratna: Former Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat

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Sonia Gandhi and Mayawati should be awarded Bharat Ratna: Former Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat

AICC general secretary and former Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat demanded that the Government of India should confer Bharat Ratna on interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati.

Rawat expressed his demand in a social media post wherein he described Sonia Gandhi and Mayawati as having “sharp” personalities with having made immense contribution towards women empowerment.

“You can agree or disagree with her politics but you cannot rule out the fact that Sonia ji has taken the yardstick of dignity, social devotion and public service of Indian women to a new height,” Rawat said in a tweet in which he tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a subsequent tweet, Rawat further said, “Similarly, Mayawati has fought for the oppressed and the exploited, besides instilling a sense of belief in them. The government of India should honour them by conferring Bharat Ratna to both this year,” he said.

Rawat’s demand for Bharat Ratna a tactic to fool public: BSP

However, Rawat’s demand to confer on Sonia Gandhi and Mayawati the country’s highest civilian award has not gone down well with the state BSP leadership which has termed it a “tactic to befool public”.

“The demand raised by Rawat is nothing but a ruse intended to fool people. The former Congress governments consistently failed in conferring the highest honour on Dalit icon Babasaheb Ambedkar. It was only conferred after BSP founder Kashiram Sahu and other BSP leaders, including Mayawati raised the demand,” BSP leader Gautam said.

He further added that when they demanded the same honour to be bestowed upon Kashiram Sahu when Congress was in power, it did not heed to their demands. “They are making such demands now when they are not in power,” said Gautam.

Read- Jawaharlal Nehru was so humble, he didn’t give Bharat Ratna to himself, just accepted that he was awesome

Rawat is setting a wrong precedent by demanding Bharat Ratna for an out on bail accused: BJP

Rawat’s call for conferring Bharat Ratna on Sonia Gandhi was also countered by the state BJP unit which said that Rawat wanted to set a wrong precedent by awarding the country’s highest honour to someone who is facing court cases.

“By demanding Bharat Ratna for Sonia Gandhi, does Rawat want the honour to be given to someone who is out on bail? What sort of precedent he wants to set by making such a demand? It will never happen,” BJP state vice-president Devendra Bhasin said.

Uttar Pradesh: 50-year-old Anganwadi worker gang-raped, murdered in Badaun, postmortem reveals shocking brutalities

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Uttar Pradesh: 50-year-old Anganwadi worker gang-raped, murdered in Badaun, postmortem reveals shocking brutalities

In a chilling news, a 50-year-old Anganwadi worker was brutally gang-raped in Uttar Pradesh’s Badaun. As per reports, the woman went to temple on Sunday night and never returned. She was gang-raped and killed by the perpetrators. According the the police, one accused has been arrested and case under section 302 and 376D of Indian Penal Code have been lodged against him.

According to the villagers, one Mahant Baba Satyanarayan, his aide Vedram and driver Jaspal escaped after leaving the woman bleeding to die. She later succumbed to her injuries. She was also reportedly taken to Chandausi for treatment in the car.

On Monday afternoon, her body was sent for postmortem which revealed more brutalities. She had received fatal injuries in her private parts. Her ribs and legs were also broken. Severe bleeding was also reported. Postmortem has further revealed her lungs were also crushed with something heavy. A metal rod was also reportedly inserted in her private parts.

A case of gang-rape and murder has been registered. Police has also formed teams to nab the remaining culprits.

Andhra Pradesh: Seer Tridandi Chinna Jeeyar Swamy to begin yatras over continued attacks on temples in the state

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Andhra Pradesh: Seer Tridandi Chinna Jeeyar Swamy to begin yatras over continued attacks on temples in the state

Amidst the ongoing attacks on Hindu temples in Andhra Pradesh, renowned Hindu spiritual leader Tridandi Chinna Jeeyar Swamy has decided to undertake a yatra from January 17 to temples that were vandalised in the recent past.

According to the reports, Seer Tridandi Chinna Jeeyar Swamy has decided to start a yatra to seek protection for Hindu religious places.

Addressing a press meet here on Tuesday, the seer expressed his disappointment over the continued attacks on temples and mentioned that over 50 temples have faced attacks in recent months. He also said that in a temple in Singarayakonda, the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy idol was damaged and asked authorities to ensure that there will be no such attacks in the coming days.

He also demanded strict action against miscreants who vandalised the temples and sought a committee of intelligence department officials to conduct a transparent inquiry. He also questioned the government over non-installation of CCTVs at the temples despite orders. He said that security flaws were exposed at temples in the recent attacks and urged the government to provide a strong security system.

In the press meet, Seer Chinna Jeeyar Swamy said that he will meet local leaders to finalise future plan of action and added that he will be consulting with the village elders, Hindu religious leaders and temple associates.

The seer said he will not remain silent when there is a threat to the very existence of temples. He further said that if churches or mosques were attacked, there would be a worldwide condemnation and retaliation and also deplored the lukewarm reaction to temple attacks.

He objected to political parties involving themselves in religious matters. The seer also said he had nothing to do with politics and did not want to blame anyone, including the government for the attacks.

A series of temple attacks in Andhra Pradesh

Attacks on Hindus and its temples in the state of Andhra Pradesh are continuously increasing. In a short span, several temples have been reportedly vandalized by the miscreants. From destroying idols to burning century-old chariots, a lot has happened in Andhra Pradesh.

On December 30, in another case of temple vandalization in Andhra Pradesh, the miscreants had targeted the famous Ramatheertham in Vizianagaram district and desecrated 400-year-old idol of Bhagwan Ram. The priest had found that the idol of Bhagwan Ram was desecrated by unknown assailants when he reached the ancient Sita Lakshmana Kodandarama temple on the Bodikonda hillock in Ramatheertham. The idol was ‘beheaded’ and broken to pieces, the pieces were thrown into a nearby pond.

Just a few days after Ramatheertham incident, the idol of Goddess Sita was found vandalised near Pandit Nehru bus stop in the Sitaram Temple in Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday. The incident came to light days after idols of Lord Subrahmanya and Shri Ram were similarly found damaged in the state.

On January 1, a Lord Subrahmanya murti in Lord Vigneshwara temple was found desecrated in Rajahmundry district. The priest of the Vigneshwara temple found the murti of Lord Subrahmanya desecrated with two severed limbs of the murti lying on the ground. 

Not just it, there have been several attacks on temples in Andhra Pradesh over last few years. Last year alone, more than five temples have been vandalised and burnt down by miscreants. The YSRCP government has been facing severe criticism for failing to prevent attacks on Hindu temples.

Canada politician allegedly flouts visa norms by attending Punjab farmers protests at Kundli border: Read details

OpIndia Staff
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Canada politician allegedly flouts visa norms by attending Punjab farmers protests at Kundli border: Read details

Even as Khalistani-elements, far-left protestors and Islamists have hijacked the so-called farmer protests in the country against the three farm laws, there seems to be more foreign interference into the political protests that are being carried out against the Modi government.

On Saturday, Ramandeep Brar, a political leader from Conservative Party of Canada, joined the protestors at the Kundli village along the Haryana-Delhi border, where thousands of protestors have camped by for over a month now to protest against the agricultural reforms initiated by the Modi government.

Taking to Twitter, Ramandeep Brar, an MP candidate from Brampton in Ontario, shared a series of images from the protest site. In his tweet, he mentioned how he met a few protestors including one person named Dr Sukhpreet Singh Udhoke. His Twitter geo-tagging stated that he was present at the Kundli border, one of the sites where protestors have camped currently.

Canada politician Ramandeep Brar interfering in Indian politics by joining protests against Modi govt

Shockingly, Brar, who does not have any locus-standi on the issue, joined the protest to express his solidarity with the farmers who have launched a political protest against the Indian government. The Canadian politician has now waded into the dangerous territory of interfering and influencing country’s politics by taking sides of a political group that is protesting against the democratically elected government.

Here are the screenshots of Ramandeep Brar’s social media accounts, where he has clearly disclosed his political career in Canada.

Ramandeep Brar’s Twitter profile

Ramandeep’s Brar Facebook profile:

Facebook profile of Ramandeep Brar

Several questions are now being raised on social media pertaining to the presence of Canada politician at the protest site in an alleged effort to influence the political protests. Netizens have pointed out how the Canada politician has violated visa rules by joining a political protest.

Social media activist ‘Befitting facts’ also noted the violation of visa rules by Brar by attending a protest in Delhi. He also urged the government to arrest him and detain at Tihar jail.

Another user too asked how can a Canada citizen participate in a protest rally in India and pointed how he has violated visa on counts such as interfering India’s internal affairs and also violating visa rules especially at a time when the country is fighting the COVID pandemic.

By interfering into India’s political protests, Ramandeep Brar has clearly violated visa norms. Addition to the visa guidelines laid out by the MHA, foreign nationals shall be required to strictly adhere to the purpose of visit declared while submitting the visa application. The foreign citizens on specific visas are not supposed to indulge in political activities and activities that account for spreading of religious conversions, etc.

The ‘Right to Protest’ under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution is a fundamental right of the country’s citizen. However, the specific right is only available to Indian citizens and not to any foreigners. Thus, Brar was violating his visa norms by joining political protests against the government.

The government, if found any violation can cancel the visa granted to Ramandeep Brar and ask him to leave the country just as it did for a few foreign protestors who violated visa rules during the Anti-CAA protests in various parts of the country.

Canada’s interference in India’s domestic matter

In December, when the Punjab farmers’ protests had just started, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his ministers ‘raised concerns’ regarding the same. Following that, India had summoned the Canadian High Commissioner and was informed that Canada’s interference is unacceptable. The MEA said that such actions, if continued, would have a damaging impact on ties between India and Canada. 

Trudeau’s virtue signalling on Punjab farmers protest was a bit ironic considering his administration itself has used brute force to suppress protests by indigenous tribes in Canada.

PFI raised money, used hawala channels to run terror training camps in Kerala: ED

OpIndia Staff
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PFI raised money, used hawala channels to run terror training camps in Kerala: ED

In a money-laundering investigation being carried out against the Muslim extremist organisation Popular Front of India (PFI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged yesterday that the outfit had raised substantial funds to organise terrorist training camps in Kerala. The ED filed a statement in a special court for Prevention of Money Laundering Act opposing the bail plea of KA Rauf Sharif, the general secretary of Campus Front of India (CFI), the student wing of the PFI, who was arrested in connection with the money laundering case.

Opposing his bail plea, the ED has asserted that Sharif had received foreign remittances of suspicious nature that seemed to have been routed to his account disguised as payments related to international trade.

PFI/SDPI activists imparted weapons training in terror camps

As per reports, in the statement filed before the PMLA court, the ED said that it had taken up a case following the filing of a charge sheet in a National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in 2013. The charge sheet stated that a group of PFI/SDPI activists had conspired to impart training to their cadres in use of explosives and weapons and organised a terror camp at Narath in Kannur district.

It was alleged that the training camp was organised with the intention of promoting enmity between different religions, preparing them for terrorist activities and therefore committed acts endangering the unity and integrity of the nation. “Since PFI has raised substantial funds to organise terrorist training camps, its related activities and to disturb communal harmony…during the course of the investigation, details of numerous bank accounts of PFI and related entities were obtained and their bank statements were analysed”, the ED said.

The ED said that the statements of several functionaries of the PFI and related entities were also recorded during the probe. The central agency alleged that it seized several documents and digital devices during the recent raids conducted at PFI offices and the residences of its office-members across India that reveal that the organisation had been collecting huge amounts of funds abroad.

The ED said that the funds received from abroad were not reflected in the PFI bank accounts which showed that the same had been remitted to them through hawala/underground channels. The PFI, allegedly, did not comply with the laws governing the collection and remittance of foreign funds. It was alleged by the ED that the PFI and its associated organisations like CFI have been involved in money laundering and have been using the money for carrying out unlawful activities in the country.

ED demanded judicial custody of CFI leader KA Rauf Sharif

The ED demanded the judicial custody of Sharif arguing that it was necessary during the crucial phase of investigation as he could try to influence the witnesses and tamper with or destroy the material evidence if let free. The ED alleged that Sharif had transferred funds to one Ateeq ur Rehman.

Ateeq ur Rehman along with three others including a journalist from Kerala was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police while they were travelling to Hathras following the death of a Dalit girl last year. “Further, there is a huge withdrawal of cash from the accounts of the accused which is suspicious in nature”, the agency alleged. An affidavit was filed by the ED in the court last month claiming its probe had revealed that the PFI had received more than Rs 100 crore in its bank accounts over the years.

Nasarudheen Elamaran, the national secretary of the PFI denied all the allegations as baseless and alleged that the ED was being used as a tool by the central government to corner their opponents.

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