– Shabana Javed
16 January 2024
The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh Police raided a madrasa in West Bengal operated by Abu Saleh, a member of an alleged human trafficking and terror funding syndicate. Abu Saleh, who is accused of receiving foreign funds amounting to Rs 58 crore in the name of two trusts and misusing them for alleged anti-national activities, was arrested in Lucknow on January 8.
During the raid, the ATS recovered a computer, two SIM cards, and several documents containing details of infiltrators from the madrasa. The seized material will undergo forensic audit, according to ATS officials.
Abu Saleh, claiming to be a director of various trusts, including Kabir Bagh Millat Academy and Haroa-al Jamiatul Islamia Darul Uloom Madrasa, reportedly received Rs 58 crore from the UK-based Ummah Welfare Trust between 2018 and 2022, as per Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) accounts.
The ATS is expected to bring Abu Saleh back to Uttar Pradesh and produce him in court to seek an extension of his remand. The investigation revealed that the Ummah Welfare Trust had its accounts with Barclays and HSBC, which were closed due to its activities in the UK. The trust is also reported to have collaborated with Interpal, a Palestinian organization designated as a terrorist entity by the US.
