Al-Qaeda-linked terror module busted in Assam; 11 held

Morigaon (Assam), July 28: Assam Police along with Central agencies detained 11 persons on Thursday, including a Madrassa teacher for their alleged links with terror outfits Al-Qaeda in Indian Sub-continent (AQIS) and Bangladesh-based Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT).

Talking about the arrests, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated, “From yesterday till today, we have caught two Jihadi modules in Barpeta and Morigaon districts of Assam and arrested all the people involved with Jihadi modules. This coordinated action along with the national police agencies was a coordinated effort and we will get a lot more information from these arrests.”

“We have closed 700 government madrassas and now we have started general education in them. In one module, we caught a Madrassa teacher. All the children in those closed madrassas will be taken to the general schools,” he further said.

“All these modules are not only sleeper cells but they also actively participate in their operation both in Bangladesh and in India. This is not a state operation this is a national operation,” the Assam CM continued.

According to GP Singh, Special DGP L&O, Border, Director V&AC and Chief Anti-Rhino Poaching Task Force, Assam, "Assam Police has detained 11 persons from Morigaon, Barpeta, Guwahati and Goalpara districts. They are connected to Islamic fundamentalism having linkages with global terror outfits viz. AQIS and ABT. Further action is being taken per law.”

As per police, accused Mustafa alias Mufti Mustafa, a native of Saharia Gaon in Morigaon district, is a key financial conduit for the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) module in India. Mustafa was an active ABT member.

The ABT has ties to Al Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent (AQIS).

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Mustafa allegedly runs a madrassa by the name of Jamiul Huda Madrassa at Sahariagaon. Police allege the activities of the madrassa were being funded through the proceeds of unlawful activities.

The Jamiul Huda Madrassa was sealed by the police. “It is suspected of being a harbour or safe house of the detained person."

Along with Mustafa, police arrested Afsaruddin Bhuyan (39) from Morigaon, Abbas Ali (22) from Goalpara, Mehbubur Rehman alias Mehbub (member of Ansarullah Bangla Team), Jubair Khan (25), Rafiqul Islam (27), Dewan Hamidul Islam (20), Moinul Haque (42), Kajibur Hussain (37), Muzibaur Rahman (50), Shahanur Aslam and Sahjahan Ali (34).

Barpeta Police have detained eight people in connection with AQIS and ABT.

A case (no 763/22) has been lodged at Barpeta police station under Section 120(b)/121/121(A) IPC read with Section 17/18/18(B)/19/20 UA(P) Act, 1967.

The police also seized numerous electronic devices and incriminating documents from detained persons. Further investigation and operations are underway.

“It’s an outcome of a long surveillance operation of Assam police and central agencies,” Special DGP GP Singh said.

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-PTC News