‘IS recruit’ held in Pune doesn’t have terror links

Security agencies have given a clean chit to Ismail Musab Abdul Rawoof, who was detained at Pune airport Tuesday on the suspicion that he was an Islamic State (IS) recruit, said sources. Interrogators, it has been learnt, do not suspect Rawoof of having any terror link and have claimed that he is an alleged hawala operator who has dealings with businessmen and jewellers from Mumbai, Karnataka and Goa.

Rawoof (34), a resident of Bhatkal in Karnataka, was detained before he could board a Dubai-bound flight Tuesday. He had been suspected of being an IS recruit travelling to Syria via Dubai to conduct hawala deals for the banned terror outfit.

“Rawoof’s interrogation has revealed that he is an hawala operator with links to Shafi Armar alias Yusuf, who heads the Afghanistan-based outfit Ansar ul Tawhid (AuT). However, Rawoof does not work for AuT. His operation is restricted to businessmen and jewellers,” a senior officer from the security establishment said. “He was not arrested because his interrogation revealed that he has no links with the IS,” he said.

Rawoof was detained in Pune after a lookout circular was issued against him.