Assam: SOPs Have Been Laid Down To Check "Imam" Entry In State, Says CM Sarma

Guwahati: Following the recent breakdown on Imams taking shelter in the state, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Monday asserted that protocols have been laid down to identify such religious teachers.

''We have made some SoP that if any Imam comes to your village and you do not know him, immediately inform the Police Station, they will verify, only after that, they can stay. Our Muslim community of Assam is helping us in this work,'' said Sarma while speaking to media persons.

He further said that the state government is also making a portal for Imam and other people who are coming to madrasa from outside the state.

''Those who are from Assam, do not need to register their names in that portal, people from outside will have to register their names in the portal,'' he added.

The Goalpara district police on Saturday arrested two persons, both imams of mosques, for links with the jihadi group Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).

Of the arrested duo, Abdus Subhan is the imam of the Tinkonia Shantipur Masjid under the Mornoi Police Station while Jalaluddin Sheikh is the imam of the Tilapara Natun Masjid under the Matia Police Station.

"Two persons have been arrested today evening by Goalpara DEF on the basis of input regarding their involvement with Al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS)," an official statement from the Goalpara district police read.

During interrogation, it was revealed that they organized a Dharma Sabha in December 2019 at Sundarpur Tilapara Madrassa, under Matia Police Station, where many Bangladeshi nationals with linkages to AQIS were invited as guest speakers. They were involved in providing logistic support to, as well as sheltering now-absconding Bangladeshi nationals.

They confessed to being members of AQIS and recruited Ansars or Sleeper Cells.

Mobile phones, SIM cards, and ID cards along with material related to al-Qaeda, jihadist elements, posters, and other documents were seized from their possession during the search of the house.

The Ansarullah Bangla organization has links with the Indian subcontinental branch of Al Qaeda and is also known as Ansarullah Islam.

A case has been registered at the Matia Police Station (No 105/22 u/s 120(B)/121/121 (A) IPC RW Section 18/18 (B)/19/20 UA(P) Act) and the matter is being investigated.

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