Guwahati: In a major Intelligence-led nation-wide operation, undertaken with the active assistance of the Kerala and West Bengal Police against a known Fundamentalist/Jihadi Global Terrorist Organisation (GTO), the Assam Police Special Task Force (STF), has apprehended and arrested eight fundamentalists; including one Bangladeshi national from Kerala; thus unearthing a terror module, which was preparing to strike.
About The Case
Operation launched with code name 'Operation Praghat' was launched after a detailed and prolonged examination of intelligence inputs regarding the clandestine anti-national activities being carried out by a group of individuals under the direction of one Md. Farhan Israk, a close associate of Jasimuddin Rahmani (Chief of Ansarullah Bangla Team, an affiliate of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, a Global Terrorist Organisation).
A Bangladeshi national, Md. Sad Radi & Md. Shab Seikh (32 Yrs) a resident of Rajshahi, Bangladesh was sent to India in the month of November 2024 to spread their nefarious ideology and create sleeper-cells amongst like-minded individuals across India, so as to initiate violent and subversive actions. Md. Sad Radi visited Assam and West Bengal to meet sleeper-cell activists of the banned Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), before he moved to Kerala for the same purpose.
Based on the imminent threat to the Nation, STF Assam, lodged an FIR vide STF, PS Case no 21/2024 U/S 61(2)/147/148/149 R/W Section 10/13/16/18/18B/20 UA(P) Act 1967 and R/W Section 12 (1)(a) of the Passport Act 1967 and launched the Operation under the direct supervision of STF Chief, Dr. Partha Sarathi Mahanta, IPS.
Teams were dispatched to various parts of the Country for identifying the Jihadi elements, to apprehend them. During the intervening night of 17-18 December 2024, the teams simultaneously conducted search & seizure Operations at the specified & identified locations in Kerala, West Bengal and Assam. The following anti-national Jihadis were apprehended & arrested along with a huge amount of incriminating documents and articles, which were seized as per Law:
The following anti-national Jihadis were apprehended & arrested along with a huge amount of incriminating documents and articles, which were seized as per Law: (i) Md. Sad Radi @ Shab Seikh (36), S/o- Md Soyer Ali, a Bangladeshi national without any valid travel documents, arrested from Kerala. (ii) Minarul Sheikh (40 yrs), S/O- Imajuddin Sheikh, Vill- Magura, Dist Murshidabad, arrested from West Bengal. (iii) Md. Abbas Ali (33 yrs), S/O-Lt Arsad Ali, Vill-Harihar para, District Murshidabad, arrested from West Bengal. (iv) Nur Islam Mandal 40 (yrs) s/o Usman Goni Vill- Joypur Namapara Dist Kokrajhar, arrested in Assam. (v) Abdul Karim Mandal (30 yrs) S/o. Toffajjal Mandal Vill- Joypur Namapara PS/Dist-Kokrajhar, arrested in Assam. (vi) Mojibar Rahman (46 yrs) S/o- Sabaruddin Seikh Vill- Bhodeyaguri PS/ Dist-Kokrajhar, arrested in Assam.(vii) Hamidul Islam (34 yrs) S/o-Taleb Ali, Vill-Joypur Namapara PS/Dist Kokrajhar, arrested in Assam.(viii) Enamul Hoque (29 yrs) S/o-Md. Amjad Ali, Vill-Hatipota part-II, PS: Bilasipara, Dist: Dhubri, arrested in Assam.
The incriminating documents and mobile phones with technical evidenceseized from the arrested accused indicate their continuous communication across the border with Bangladesh & Pakistan based entities over the last couple of months.
The following have been recovered and seized from the arrested accused, till now: (i) Mobile phones with various suspicious apps, used for communicatingwith their handlers in Bangladesh/Pakistan.(ii) Many incriminating texts with distorted religious beliefs relating to Jihad,both in technical and physical form.(iii) Religious books with distorted narratives, printed and published in Bangladesh. Four (04) of pen-drives with incriminating evidence. One Bangladesh National Card issued in the name of Md. Sad Radi, seized from the house of arrested accused - Nur Islam Mandal, s/o Usman Goni Vill- Joypur Namapara Dist- Kokrajhar, Assam. Various Bangladeshi certificates issued in the name of Md. Sad Radi, seized from his possession at the time of his arrest in Kerela. Another four persons, who were also picked up by STF team in Kokrajhar during the inquiry, were released after preliminary investigation as no such clear evidence has yet been found regarding their involvement.
Revaluation on the terror module till now during the course of the investigation until now, significant revelations have come to light regarding the clandestine activities and modus operandi of the arrested accused. It has been found that the module was working to establish Sleeper Cells across the Country, particularly in Assam and West Bengal. These Sleeper Cells were intended to serve as covert operational units, poised for subversive and violent activities that would be initiated to disrupt peace and tranquillity as well as cause destruction of life and property.
The arrested accused played a pivotal role in aiding Md. Sad Radi in his mission to identify, recruit and indoctrinate individuals who share or were inclined towards similar Fundamentalist/Jihadi ideologies. By exploiting local vulnerabilities, religious sentiments and fault lines, they aimed to create a network capable of operating under the radar while remaining loyal to the broader objectives of their organization, to create disruption and chaos in India.
The arrested accused persons have been in contact with Farhan Israk, a Bangladeshi National through Sad Radi. The said Farhan Israk is close associates of Jasimuddin Rahmani, ABT Chief. Farhan Israk was controlling the Sleeper Cell, set up by the arrested accused Nur Islam Mandal & Mazibar Rahman, directly. It is pertinent to mention that the above-mentioned Nur Islam Mondal, was arrested earlier in connection with Dhaligaon PS Case No. 161/2015, U/S 120(B)/ 121/ 121(A)/ 122/ 387/365/511 IPC R/W Section 25 (1-A), 35 Arms Act and currently on bail. Nur Islam Mandal along with Mazibur Rahman visited several locations across West Bengal as part of their concerted efforts which were strategically aimed at influencing and recruiting youth to join terrorists organizations such as ABT and AQIS.
Several meetings were organized in Murshidabad and Falakata, West Bengal, where participants, including Nur Islam Mandal and his associates, deliberated extensively on targeting members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and other Hindu organizations. During these meetings, they devised plans to assassinate prominent religious and Hindu leaders. The motive behind these actions was to incite religious tensions and disturbances, aiming to disrupt communal harmony and destabilize the region. These discussions highlight a deliberate effort to exploit religious sensitivities for nefarious anti-National purposes, posing a significant threat to peace and security.
These individuals were actively involved in the procurement of arms and ammunition, as a part of the larger conspiracy to wage war against the Government of India. Evidence suggests that these activities were carried out with the intent to equip and strengthen the operational/violent/disruptive capabilities of Jihadi/Extremist groups aiming to destabilize the Nation's security and sovereignty.
Further investigation is on in Operation-Praghat to unearth further nodes of the nexus, that may have spread across the country. The investigation is being monitored at the highest echelons of the Assam Police.