Meerut, Aug 17 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operative who was collecting money in the name of a madrassa to send across the border, officials said on Monday.
According to the ATS, Mohammad Zafar was attempting to send funds to Pakistan, where JeM is based.
Zafar, originally from Mirganj in Bihar’s Purnia district, once lived in Meerut and studied at a local madrassa, the agency said.
Speeches of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar and other extremist material radicalised him, and prompted him to use social media to incite people, the officials said.
A forensic examination of his mobile phone revealed WhatsApp groups with Pakistani nationals discussing jihad and fund collection.
The agency said Zafar was also allegedly sharing content related to jihad and the Caliphate on Facebook.
The ATS claimed that after joining JeM-linked groups, Zafar established contact with Pakistani handlers and offered financial help.
When an initial attempt to transfer funds directly to a Pakistani bank account provided by a handler failed, he used a Binance account and transferred funds multiple times in cryptocurrency, the agency said.
Zafar was arrested on August 16 and was booked under sections 18 and 38 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
He confessed to his involvement during interrogation, officials said. PTI COR ABN VN VN
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