Assam's STF Detains Another Associate of ABT Terror Group from Bangladesh
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Synopsis
The Assam Police's STF has made another arrest linked to the Bangladesh-based terrorist group, ABT, as part of their ongoing operation 'Praghat'. This brings the total arrests to 15, highlighting efforts to combat terrorism and dismantle extremist networks in the region.
Key Takeaways
- STF arrests another ABT cadre.
- Total of 15 ABT associates apprehended.
- Operation Praghat continues since November.
- Focus on dismantling radical networks.
- Key conspirators involved in arms acquisition.
Guwahati, Feb 4 (NationPress) The Special Task Force (STF) of Assam Police, as part of its operation 'Praghat', has apprehended another member of the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), a terrorist organization from Bangladesh associated with Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), officials announced on Tuesday.
This recent capture brings the total number of ABT affiliates arrested by the STF to 15, spanning across Assam, West Bengal, and Kerala.
An Assam Police spokesperson stated that in an effort to dismantle fundamentalist networks and Global Terrorist Organisations (GTO) throughout the nation, STF personnel, with the vital assistance of Kokrajhar Police, apprehended a significant operative, Nasim Uddin SK, from Kokrajhar District on Monday.
Nasim Uddin has been identified as an active participant in the ABT and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen (JAM). The detainee was closely linked to the primary suspect, Nur Islam Mandal, who was previously detained for his involvement in extremist activities in the same ongoing case by STF from Kokrajhar.
Since the night of December 17 last year, the accused had been evading capture by law enforcement and was attempting to escape justice, the spokesperson noted.
Investigations have indicated that the arrested operative was a key conspirator, collaborating with Nur Islam Mandal in acquiring weapons and producing IEDs to equip and empower extremist factions.
Their aim was evident: to undermine national security, disrupt peace, and pose a significant threat to India's sovereignty. This arrest signifies another pivotal advancement in dismantling the expanding network of radical elements seeking to incite unrest and jeopardize our nation's integrity, the police spokesperson added.
Following his appearance in court, the arrested individual has been remanded to police custody for seven days, and the investigation is ongoing to uncover the full scope of the terror network, which has extensive connections beyond the border, the spokesperson stated.
According to STF sources, among the 15 detainees, including Bangladeshi nationals, they operate under the supervision of Md Farhan Israk, a close ally of Jasimuddin Rahmani, the Chief of ABT.
The ABT dispatched one Bangladeshi national, Md Sad Radi alias Md Shab Sheikh (32), a resident of Rajshahi, Bangladesh, to India to disseminate their malevolent ideology among like-minded individuals in the country, STF sources reported.
He was captured in Kerala in December last year.
Evidence suggests that their activities were orchestrated with the intention of enhancing and promoting the operational capabilities of extremist groups aiming to destabilize the country's security and sovereignty, the sources added.
The investigation continues to unravel the entire nexus spreading throughout the nation, the spokesperson indicated.
Under the leadership of STF Chief Partha Sarathi Mahanta, 'Operation Praghat' has been in motion since November of the previous year.
Senior officials from Assam Police previously noted that the eight arrested individuals served as handlers in Pakistan and Bangladesh, working to establish 'sleeper cells' across various regions of India, with intentions to assassinate leaders from the Hindu community and RSS, alongside engaging in violent and subversive activities within India, the officials had stated.
