4 People Detained in Assam for Ties to Terrorist Groups in Bangladesh

GUWAHATI: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma applauded the Assam Police's commitment to eradicating jihadist activities in the state after 4 people were arrested in Assam for having ties to terrorist organisations in Bangladesh.

As per the sources, the operation was conducted on Monday and the culprits in Assam's Nalbari and Tamulpur districts, who were said to have illegal connections with the terrorist groups Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), based in Bangladesh, and Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), were detained.

Nalbari district police detained two individuals identified as Md Habel Ali and Abu Raihan, while Tamulpur district police detained two more individuals associated to AQIS, named as Sadeq Ali and Jakibul Ali, according to Pabindra Kumar Nath, superintendent of police for the Nalbari district, who spoke to ANI.

"In connection with Ghograpar police station Case number 163/22, U/S- 120(B)/ 121/121(A)/122 IPC , R/W-Sec -10/13 UA(P) Act, Nalbari district police arrested two persons identified as Md Habel Ali (26 years old) and Abu Raihan (26 years old). Today police have put them before the court," says Pabindra Kumar Nath to ANI.

As per a statement given by police officials, Md. Habel Ali also admitted to indoctrinating a few youths to join AQIS and ABT during questioning.

A bunch of other people is also being monitored, according to the authorities.

In the meantime, Himanta Biswa Sarma, the chief minister of Assam, praised the state police for the "commendable effort" they have put in the process of "rooting out jihadi influences" from Assam.

In a recent tweet CM Sarma said, "We're determined to root out jihadi elements from Assam. @TamulpurPolice has done a commendable job in nabbing 2 persons -- Sadeq Ali & Jakibul Ali -- who lured youth to join B'desh-based terror outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team affiliated to al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS)."

"Sadeq Ali's arrest represents a big victory since during the previous two years, he radicalised young people, including Jakibul Ali. He was connected to both JMB and Neo-JMB. Habel Ali and Abu Raihan were also detained in a related case by the Ghograpar Police (Nalbari Dist)," Sarma further stated.

Jihadi elements have established base in the state. Many of them are masquerading as Imams in mosques or teachers in madrassas. Several of them have been arrested in recent times and their interrogations by police has lead to more leads to follow up on. The Assam Police and district administrations have put out notices, asking people from the Muslim community to be vigilant and not to employ any person in mosques and madrassas without first verifying their antecedents. Assam Police fear that 'sleeper cells' of such elements with links to terrorist organisations in Bangladesh, affiliated to Al- Qaida, have been set up and vigilance has been multiplied to keep tabs on suspected individuals.

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