[Assam] Bangla-based jehadis active in State

[Pradip Kumar Datta]

Bangla-based jehadis active in State
  
By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
 GUWAHATI, March 6 – Assam Government today admitted in the State Assembly that jehadi groups, with their headquarters in Bangladesh and insurgent groups of NE region sheltering in this neighbouring country, are active in the State. Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain made this admission through a statement he had made on behalf of the Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio.

The statement assumes significance, as, for the first time, such a formal admission on the issue has come from the State Government on the floor of the House.

Hussain, while reading out the statement in response to the plea made by Girin Barua (AGP) during the Zero Hour, said that it was a fact that headquarters of many jehadi groups were located in Bangladesh and from there, operations of these groups are directed. Many insurgent groups of the State and other parts of the NE region are also taking shelter in the neighbouring country, he said.

The State Police, particularly the police force posted in the districts along the Indo-Bangla border, have been kept on vigil. Due to the initiative of the State Police, many active members of the jehadi groups, besides the trained members of the NE insurgent groups, were arrested at various places. The members of the jehadi groups include Badrul Alam, Riyajul Islam Choudhury, Md Sheikh Mahbub Alam and Fasiulla. 

The arrested members of the jehadi groups are citizens of Pakistan and Bangladesh and they are involved with the Harkat-ul-Mujahidin, Harkat-ul-Jehad or Jamatul Mujahidin. So far, none of the members of the jehadi groups of the Middle East countries, North Africa, Chechnya or East Europe has been arrested in the State as reported in a section of the print media. Moreover, the arrested members of the jehadi groups have not divulged any information that might suggest their link with the jehadi groups of these countries, said Hussain.

A huge cache of arms and ammunition belonging to the insurgent groups, including ULFA, has been seized by the Assam Police and the Army in Garo Hills of Meghalaya and Cachar, Karimganj and other parts of the State while being carried to the Indian territory from Bangladesh. 

The Border Security Force, which has been entrusted with the job to guard the 259.57 km Indo-Bangla border in the State, is alerted by the Assam Police from time to time on the movements of the members of the jehadi and insurgent groups.

A Lead Intelligence Agency has also been formed under the BSF to strengthen the security arrangements along the Indo-Bangla border in the State. Through this agency, BSF, State Police and intelligence agencies of both the State and Central Governments are taking various steps to strengthen security along the Indo-Bangla border in the State, he said.

The Unified Command Structure, comprising the Army, BSF and the State Police, has been taking appropriate steps to tackle the jehadi and insurgent groups. Moreover, the Assam Government has taken steps to execute a proposal to raise the number of the border outposts (BOPs) and police stations in the border areas, the Minister added.


       
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