Tourist visas being misused for 'waaz': Assam DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Assam's Director General of Police (DGP) Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta on Sunday highlighted the fact that some foreign nationals, especially those from Bangladesh, enter Assam on tourist visas but then indulge in 'waaz' (religious sermons) in minority-dominated areas.

Referring to the arrest of 17 Bangladeshi nationals from the Baghmari area in the Biswanath district on Saturday, Mahanta told the media that he had already flagged the issue during a meeting with religious leaders of the Muslim community of the state.

"Those who visit Assam on tourist visas should visit the Rang Ghar, Kareng Ghar, Kaziranga National Park and other wildlife sanctuaries. They are given tourist visas to facilitate tourism activities. But some anti-India forces from Bangladesh and other countries misuse tourist visas to indulge in 'waaz' activities. This is not the purpose for which they are given visas. We will be very strict against such acts," Mahanta said.

Mahanta said that while those arrested in Biswanath "may be good people," but they were involved in religious discussions in the Baghmari sar which was notorious as a base for rhino poaching and 'bad characters''. This was a violation of visa conditions, the DGP said.

Regarding the international jihadi networks, the DGP said that the Assam Police is in constant touch with the police in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Telengana, Tripura etc., regarding the comings and goings of suspicious individuals and groups.

He said that an action plan is being prepared to tackle the threat posed by fundamentalist groups.

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