Assam Police has intensified its crackdown on jihadi elements and their associates in a bid to quell the growing threat of Islamic terrorist organisations, operating mostly from Bangladesh. A series of arrests in the districts of Goalpara, Morigaon, Barpeta and Bongaigaon in the last few weeks have reinforced the threat potential of these organisations. In a latest, two persons linked to foreign groups were nabbed on August 29. The number of person arrested has now gone up to 37.
The Assam Police has also handed over a couple of cases to the National Investigation Agency(NIA) for a detailed investigation after busting sleeper cells in these districts. Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma had personally addressed the media on the gravity of the situation.
“Since March, Assam Police, aided by inputs from Central agencies, have been carrying out operations in lower Assam districts of Barpeta and Bongaigaon. These operations have revealed that six Bangladeshi nationals entered the State to ‘indoctrinate youths’, and one of them — Mohammed Suman — was arrested from Barpeta in the same month, while five are at large” Dr Sarma told the media.
Subsequently, police busted six modules of Bangladesh-based Islamic terrorist organisation, Ansarullah Bangla Team(ABT) in the State. It has also accessed vital information and decoded the activities and plans of outfits like Al Qaeda Indian Sub-Continent(AQIS) and ABT.
The Chief Minister said Suman had been living in the “guise of an Arabic teacher in a Madrasa, and also worked as an Imam”. One Mufti Mustafa, was arrested from Moirabari in Morigaon district on July 28. He ran a Madrasa, where children were indoctrinated in ‘jihadi’ ideology. His madrassa in Moirabari was demolished on August 4 because it was constructed ‘without permission’, the Chief Minister had told the media in his briefing.
“I urge all to stay alert and help the administration in overcoming the challenges posed by these jihadis. Peace-loving Muslim groups have already joined hands with us for the cause. The current situation calls for a higher level of vigilance to defeat these evil forces,” Dr. Sarma said
Meanwhile, Goalpara Superintendent of Police VV Rakesh Reddy told Asom Barta that the police in Goalpara district have arrested two Imams for links to the AQIS and ABT.
“We have found evidence of logistic support given to other jihadis by the two arrested imams. They were also recruiting people for new jihadi sleeper cells in Goalpara and were getting logistical support from AQIS and ABT,” said Reddy.
The SP added that members of ABT were found using highly-sophisticated technology to communicate, rarely using their phones for calls and there was complete compartmentalisation of different modules with members using several aliases.
“Both of them have ties with Jihadi cells earlier busted in Barpeta and Morigaon districts. During interrogation we came to know that both had literature with an Al Qaida connection,” he added.
In order to pre-empt the threat perception, the Assam Chief Minister informed the media that a new SOP was being put in place for new Imams coming to the State (See Box).
