Guwahati, 19th December: 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 (08) fundamentalists; including one
Bangladeshi national from Kerala; thus unearthing a Terror Module, which was
preparing to strike.
2. OPERATION-PRAGHAT was launched after a detailed and prolonged
examination of intelligence inputs regarding the clandestine anti-National
activities being carried out by 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.
3. 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:
(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.
4. The incriminating documents and mobile phones with technical evidence
seized 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 communicating
with 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.
(iv) Four (04) of pen-drives with incriminating evidence.
(v) 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.
(vi) Various Bangladeshi certificates issued in the name of Md. Sad Radi,
seized from his possession at the time of his arrest in Kerela.
5. Another four (04) 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.
REVELATIONS ON THE TERROR MODULE TILL NOW:
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
Assam STF Busts Terror Module, Arrests 8, Including Bangladeshi National, This operation was led by IPS Parthasarathi Mahanta Chief of STF, Assam
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