Intelligence sources: ‘IS recruit nabbed in Pune left hawala trail’

Ismail Musab Abdul Rawoof (34) was detained by Intelligence Bureau (IB) and NIA on the basis of a look out circular issued by the IB.

Militants of the Islamic State group hold up their weapons and wave its flags on their vehicles in a convoy on a road leading to Iraq, in Raqqa, Syria in an undated file photo (Militant photo via AP, File)

Officials identified the youth as Raoof Ahmed, a resident of Bhatkal in north Karnataka.

An alleged Islamic State (IS) recruit, who was Tuesday detained at Pune International Airport while attempting to leave for Dubai, is suspected to have carried out hawala transactions for the outfit’s self-appointed franchise in India.

Ismail Musab Abdul Rawoof (34) was detained by Intelligence Bureau (IB) and NIA on the basis of a look out circular issued by the IB.

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Intelligence sources said Rawoof is suspected to have played a role in two tranches of hawala money that reached suspected IS recruit Mudabbir Sheikh in Mumbai. Sheikh, according to NIA, is the chief of Junud al Khilafa-e-Hind (JKH), a self-appointed franchise of IS that is suspectedly run on the instructions of former Indian Mujahideen operative Shafi Armar.

“Through hours of interrogation no evidence of Rawoof’s involvement with the group has come to the fore till now. The probe will continue. If nothing is found against him, he will be released,” said a home ministry official.

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