Palwal, October 15: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has alleged that Hafiz Saeed's Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) had provided a fund for construction of a mosque in Haryana's Palwal district. The NIA made the allegation after arresting imam of the Khulafa-e-Rashideen masjid, Mohammed Salman, in New Delhi in an alleged terror-funding case.

Salman was arrested along with two others - Mohammed Salim and Sajjad Abdul Wani - on September 26 for allegedly receiving terror funding from Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF), an NGO set up by Hafiz Saeed’s Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), LeT’s parent organisation. Following the arrest, the NIA searched the Khulafa-e-Rashideen masjid at Uttawar village in Palwal on October 3. NIA Conducts Searches in Delhi as Part of Probe into Pak-linked Terror Funding Module.

“Salman, who came in touch with LeT associated men when he was in Dubai, had been receiving funds from FIF. The organisation, we have learnt, gave him Rs 70 lakh to build a mosque in Uttawar," NIA sources told Indian Express. The agency is questioning office bearers of the mosque and scrutinising the account books and details of donations.

According to the NIA, Salman was one of the few who provided a significant amount for the construction of the mosque. The agency alleged that this money came from the FIF. Locals say they have no idea of Salman's links with the terror group, adding that the mosque is embroiled in a land dispute. The agency also alleged that Salman had received money from FIF for the marriage of his daughters.

After Salman’s arrest in September, the NIA, in an official statement said: “During investigation, it emerged that one Mohammad Salman…is in regular touch with one Dubai-based Pakistani national, who in turn is connected with the Deputy Chief of Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation. The accused person has been receiving funds, being sent by FIF operators and his associates through hawala operators.”

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 15, 2018 09:23 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).