The Enforcement Directorate conducted extensive searches across 40 locations in Delhi, Kolkata, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh targeting a radicalized IS module. Investigations revealed alleged use of crime proceeds for weapons, explosives, recruitment, and training of terror suspects. This money laundering probe stems from an NIA chargesheet, with intelligence suggesting illicit wood trade funding extremist activities.
NEW DELHI: Enforcement Directorate on Thursday carried out searches across 40 locations in Delhi, Kolkata and parts of Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh against “a highly radicalised IS module” allegedly using proceeds of crime in procurement of weapons and explosives, besides recruitment and training of terror suspects.Agency sources said it took help of Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra as it raided around 30 locations in the Padgha & Ratnagiri areas of Maharashtra. ED officials conducted searches early Thursday, accompanied by over 300 security personnel, as these areas are considered “very sensitive”.ED’s money laundering investigation is based on a recent chargesheet filed by NIA, which had shared details of its findings with the agency to further probe the money trail of the accused, their family members and other associates.”The NIA chargesheet revealed that the individuals were part of a highly radicalised IS-linked module and were engaged in recruitment, training, procurement of weapons and explosives, and raising funds to sustain the operations of the terror module,” sources said.They said that ED had received intelligence inputs from ATS-Mumbai, reflecting clandestine cutting, smuggling, and sale of Khair (Kaith) wood, the proceeds of which were suspected to be diverted for supporting extremist activities.
