Guwahati, Jan 3 (NationPress) The 11 detained associates of the Bangladeshi jihadi organization Imam Mahmuder Kafila (IMK) have reportedly confessed to their participation in the activities outlined in the FIR during their interrogations, according to sources from Assam Police on Saturday.

The Special Task Force (STF) of the Assam Police apprehended these 11 individuals on December 30 during synchronized operations executed across various locations in Assam's Barpeta, Chirang, Baksa, and Darrang districts, as well as in the adjacent state of Tripura.

IMK is recognized as a Bangladeshi offshoot of the banned group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).

Sources indicate that the accused had initiated fundraising efforts in different regions of Barpeta, Chirang, and other districts in lower Assam to advance the objectives of IMK.

“Moreover, in mosques where indoctrination was taking place, references to waging an armed struggle against the Indian state were made. The intent of the accused was to incite violent activities under the guise of jihad and instigate communal unrest in Assam and Tripura,” the sources noted.

Investigators reported that to promote the agenda of IMK, the Amir, Nachimuddin from Barpeta, along with one associate from Tripura, traveled to Bangladesh around April or May 2024 for strategizing and training.

Further investigations are being conducted in a systematic manner.

According to police sources, the apprehended individuals disclosed that in late 2024, Nasim Uddin alias Tamim of Nichuka, Barpeta Road, encountered a YouTube video discussing the notion of a ‘Mujaddid’, a religious reformer believed to emerge every century to safeguard Islamic faith.

After commenting on the video with his place of origin, he received a response from a user claiming to be from Bangladesh and identifying himself as Khalid. The video asserted that a ‘Mujaddid’ named Imam Mahmud had already surfaced to disseminate Islamic teachings.

A user ID shown in the video directed Nasim Uddin to a Telegram account named Khalid. Through this account, Khalid allegedly shared religious texts and ‘Ilham’ (believed messages from Allah) in PDF format.

Under the guidance of Umar, Sujan Bin Sultan, and Shamim Barah from Bangladesh, along with Mir Rahman of West Bengal and Jagir Miah from Tripura, Khalid allegedly propagated Hadith, asserting that the arrival of the ‘Mujaddid’ had been foretold.

The STF units of the Assam Police executed raids during the night of December 29 across multiple sites in Barpeta, Chirang, Baksa, and Darrang districts, as well as in Tripura, resulting in the arrest of 10 associates from Assam and one from the bordering village of Jaipur in West Tripura district.

Investigators discovered that the accused were linked through a WhatsApp group named ‘Purba Akash’, which was purportedly utilized for communication, radical promotion, and coordination among members across Assam and Tripura.

Authorities stated that IMK was established in 2018 by Jewel Mahmud alias Imam Mahmud Habibullah alias Sohail, a former JMB member who identifies as the Amir of IMK and propagates the ideology of ‘Ghazwatul Hind’.

It has been further reported that following the political shift in Bangladesh in August 2024, senior figures from JMB, Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), and Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) allegedly instructed the IMK leadership to mobilize and expand its operations in India.

Investigators noted that after the governmental transition in Bangladesh, operatives from JMB, ABT, and AQIS were either released or became emboldened, leading to a resurgence of their ideological reach and networks in India via platforms associated with IMK.

IMK is accused of spreading extremist narratives that advocate violent jihad and armed actions in India through digital platforms, including websites and social media channels under the ‘Ghazwatul Hind’ banner, police reported.

A report from Times of Bangladesh indicated that following August 5, 2024, at least 346 inmates were released on bail within a short timeframe, including those convicted in significant arms haul cases and members of various banned organizations. The report highlighted that 148 members of JMB were released on bail within eight months after the political transition.

The Assam Police STF has previously arrested numerous JMB associates in distinct operations across West Bengal, Kerala, and Assam.