BHUBANESWAR/CUTTACK: Suspected Al Qaeda Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) operative Abdul Rehman Kataki had received funds from overseas locations.
Preliminary investigation into his bank transactions has revealed that a sum of `30,000 had been received by his Canara Bank account recently. The fund was reportedly transmitted from London. Some of the funds are believed to have come from Middle-East countries.
The Twin City Police Commissionerate, which registered a case against Rehman on Friday, has begun to verify the source of the funds. If sources are to be believed, transfer of funds from a third party account is also under scanner of the police.
“We are also verifying if he received funds through another person. We are trying to locate the man,” sources said.
On Friday, the Commissionerate of Police formally registered a case against Rehman at Jagatpur Police Station under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. He has been charged under Sections 17/18/18(B) and 20 for raising funds for terrorist Act, conspiracy, recruiting persons for terrorist acts and being a member of a terrorist organisation. An ACP-ranked officer Trinath Mishra has been designated as the investigating officer.
Police Commissioner Dr RP Sharma said the police will analyse the functioning of the madrasa Rehman was running at Tangi and how he selected his students. Besides, funds for the seminary, expenditure will also be under the scope of investigation. His bank accounts as well as that of his associates will also be probed.
“We will also try to investigate if he was recruiting youths for terror purposes,” he said.Sources said Rehman has told investigators that he had received donations for teaching poor students.
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However, since transmission of funds from overseas countries necessitates conformation to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) except for family remittances, any transaction in Rehman’s accounts could land him in trouble.
“If you look at terror funding across the globe, it is hardly carried out through bank transactions. It is mostly by way of the hawala route. That is something the investigators have to look at,” sources informed.
Meanwhile, the Commissionerate Police has begun investigation into sudden and suspicious disappearance of at least six persons from Unit III area of the City.
The six have become incommunicado once the news of Rehman’s arrest broke. They were reportedly in contact with a driver who hailed from Jagatpur area.