Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Thursday that the state is becoming a hotbed of “jihadi activities” after police discovered links to the Bangladesh-based terror organisation Ansarul Islam in terror modules busted in the last five months.
“Assam police have conducted several successful operations against jehadi modules. In the last five months, the police have busted five such modules of the terrorist organisation Ansarullah Bangla Team with the assistance of other investigative agencies “Assam’s chief minister stated
“Indoctrination of Muslim youths in private madrasas by Imams from outside the state is alarming,” the chief minister said
Himanta Biswa Sarma told a press conference that six Bangladeshi nationals from Ansarul Islam had entered Assam to indoctrinate youths. When police busted the first module in Barpeta in March of this year, one person was arrested.
“Jihadi activity is not the same as terrorist or insurgency activity. It begins with years of indoctrination, then active participation in promoting Islamic fundamentalism, and finally subversive activities “The CM stated.
The Bangladeshi nationals, ‘who entered the state illegally’ in 2016-17, operated several training camps during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The chief minister appealed to the people to inform the local police if anyone from outside becomes a teacher or an Imam in a madrasa.
“Investigation has confirmed links of 11 people arrested in Assam last week with Bangladesh-based terror outfit Ansarul Bangla team,” a senior police official had told news agency PTI.
Police arrested 12 people from Morigaon, Goalpara, Guwahati and Barpeta for their alleged links with the terror outfit. Police also seized incriminating documents including ‘Jehadi literature and videos’ from their possession, PTI reported.