Guwahati: In a coordinated operation named Operation Pragat, Assam Police, in collaboration with their counterparts in West Bengal and Kerala, have apprehended eight individuals linked to the Bangladesh-based jihadi terror group Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT). This significant crackdown has unveiled critical information about the group's activities and intentions.
During interrogation, investigators uncovered that the group aimed to destabilize the Siliguri Corridors —strategically known as the “Chicken’s Neck”—to sever Northeast India from the mainland. The group’s activities spanned Assam, West Bengal, and Kerala, highlighting their extensive network and alarming motives.
The operation led to the arrest of Saad Radi, alias Shaab Sheikh, a Bangladeshi national and a key orchestrator of the ABT sleeper cell network, from Kerala. His capture is pivotal as he was reportedly directing efforts to expand the group's influence in India, specifically targeting the critical Siliguri Corridor. The West Bengal STF confirmed this development, emphasizing the broader implications of the group’s agenda.
West Bengal ADGP Supratim Sarkar revealed that the arrested individuals were actively recruiting locals to establish sleeper cells. The group, led by an individual known as "Farhan," disseminated a controversial book titled Kutbatul Islam. Published in Bangladesh, this book advocates religious extremism and violent actions under the guise of protecting Indian Muslims. It was also used as training material for madrasa educators, further propagating the group's ideology.
The arrested individuals reportedly planned attacks against members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and other Hindu organizations. According to police, the module operated under the directives of Md. Farhan Ishraq, a close associate of ABT leader Jasimuddin Rahmani. ABT is affiliated with Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), underscoring its global terror links.
Reports indicate that the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in Bangladesh facilitated the release of ABT leader Jasimuddin Rahmani from prison. Following his release, the group’s activities intensified, with operatives infiltrating India to establish recruitment networks. Saad Radi allegedly entered India through Murshidabad in November and traveled across West Bengal, Assam, and Kerala to expand the group's sleeper cells.
Shaab Sheikh, a 32-year-old Bangladeshi national arrested in Kerala, had been living among migrant workers and working in painting and construction. During interrogation, he claimed his mother was a Bangladeshi citizen, while his father hailed from West Bengal. The police revealed that Farhan Ishraq oversaw the group’s activities from Bangladesh.
The group targeted key cities, including Dhubri, Goalpara, and Guwahati in Assam, as well as Malda, Murshidabad, and Kolkata in West Bengal. The arrested individuals include Minarul Sheikh, Md. Abbas Ali, Nur Islam Mandal, Abdul Karim Mandal, Mojibur Rahman, Hameedul Islam, and Inamul Haque.
Authorities remain steadfast in their efforts to counter terrorism and prevent the spread of extremist activities from Bangladesh into India. Operation Pragat continues to dismantle the terror network, with further investigations aimed at identifying additional operatives and securing the region.
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