NIA files chargesheet against 11 in JMB offshoot terror plot targeting Bengal, Northeast
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against 11 accused in connection with a terror conspiracy orchestrated by an offshoot of the proscribed Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), targeting West Bengal and several northeastern states. The chargesheet was filed before the NIA Special Court in Guwahati, Assam, under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.
The JMB Offshoot at the Centre of the Case
NIA investigations revealed that the accused were linked to Imam Mahmuder Kafila (IMK), described by the agency as a manifestation of the banned JMB outfit. According to the NIA, senior JMB member Imam Mahmud Habibullah had established IMK specifically to advance the proscribed organisation's extremist agenda within India. The group's activities were allegedly concentrated across West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura.
What the Accused Are Alleged to Have Done
The NIA stated that the 11 chargesheeted accused conspired to expand the IMK/JMB presence in India through clandestine meetings, religious indoctrination programmes, circulation of extremist literature, and use of digital platforms for anti-India propaganda. The agency said they were also promoting allegiance to the leadership of IMK/JMB. The conspiracy allegedly involved the radicalisation of vulnerable youth and the systematic broadening of the group's network across the region.
Key Accused Identified
The NIA identified two individuals as central to the network's operations. Nasimuddin allegedly spearheaded IMK activities in Assam, while Jagir Mia was said to be leading the outfit's operations in Tripura. During the investigation, the agency said it recovered incriminating documents, electronic devices, and digital records that were used to build the case against the accused.
Case Details and Ongoing Investigation
The case has been registered as RC-01/2026/NIA/GUW and remains under active investigation, the agency confirmed. The chargesheet was filed on Friday, 26 June, according to an official NIA press release. This development signals a continued federal focus on dismantling cross-border Islamist networks that have historically used the India-Bangladesh border corridor — particularly through West Bengal — as an entry and expansion route. The JMB, which has been proscribed in both India and Bangladesh, has faced multiple crackdowns in recent years, yet its offshoots have reportedly continued recruitment operations through digital channels and local intermediaries.
What Comes Next
With the chargesheet now before the NIA Special Court in Guwahati, the case moves into the trial phase for the accused already in custody. Investigators say the probe is ongoing and further arrests cannot be ruled out as the agency continues to map the full extent of the network across the northeastern states.