The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested 13 persons from West Bengal, Assam and Keralam for their alleged links with the Imam Mahmuder Kafila (IMK), an offshoot of the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, a banned terror outfit.
“Investigations revealed that the accused were trying to expand the JMB’s and IMK’s network in West Bengal and other north eastern states through religious indoctrination, extremist literature and use of digital platforms. Four persons were arrested in West Bengal, eight were intercepted in Assam and one was held in Keralam. The four held in West Bengal include an Imam, who was arrested from Mangalkot in East Burdwan.
“Raids were conducted in 16 locations across the three states, including five in West Bengal. In all 13 persons were arrested. The Union government banned the JMB and all its manifestations under section 35 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 in May 2019. At least 10 accused, including nine Bangladeshis are still absconding. The other three were held from South Dinajpur district in north Bengal and South 24 Parganas district adjacent to Kolkata.
The accused were held for their alleged links with the IMK,” said an NIA official. Mobile phones, pen-drives, and memory cards were seized from them,” said an official.
Investigation by the agency revealed that the accused were trying to expand the IMK’s ideology in West Bengal and north-eastern states. Later the NIA took over the probe.
