NIA arrests 9 Al-Qaeda terrorists from WB, Kerala
Among those arrested are computer science student and guest workers
In a major crackdown on terror, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) busted a ‘Pakistan sponsored module’ of Al Qaeda and arrested its nine members from West Bengal and Kerala early Saturday for allegedly planning terror attacks in New Delhi and other parts of the country.
Among them, six accused including two college students and two migrant workers were caught during a marathon raid at their homes in various parts of Murshidabad which earlier came under the NIA’s scanner during its probe in the Burdwan blast which blew the lid off Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh network active in West Bengal six years ago around this time.
The arrested have been identified as Najmus Sakib (20), Abu Sufiyan (44), Mainul Mondal (30), Leu Yean Ahmed (32), Al Mamun Kamal (30) and Atitur Rehman (20).
This was also the first time when such a large number of accused of terror were picked up simultaneously in the state.
Najmus is a second-year student of computer science at Basantapur Engineering College in Domkol of the district while Atitur is a first year BA student of Karimpur Pannadevi College.
Mainul, a guest worker, had returned home at Jalangi in the district from Kerala three months ago. Like him Mamun also worked as a mason in Bengaluru earlier. But he returned home two years ago.
The NIA said that it initiated a case RC31/2020/NIA/DLI on September 11 after learning “about an inter-state module of Al-Qaeda operatives at various locations in India including West-Bengal and Kerala.”
It said, “The group was planning to undertake terrorist attacks at vital installations in India with an aim to kill people and strike terror in their minds. Large quantity of incriminating materials including digital devices, documents, jihadi literature, sharp weapons, country-made firearms, a locally fabricated body armour, articles and literature used for making home-made explosive devices have been seized from their possession.”
The NIA added, “As per preliminary investigation, these individuals were radicalised by Pakistan-based Al-Qaeda terrorists on social media and were motivated to undertake attacks at multiple places including the National Capital Region. For this purpose, the module was actively indulging in fund raising and a few members of gang were planning to travel to New Delhi to procure arms and ammunition. These arrests have pre-empted possible terrorist attacks in various parts of the country."
The six accused, brought from Murshidabad, were produced at the NIA court in Kolkata which remanded them in police custody.
The arrests have come as a shot in the arm for the BJP to turn it into a major political issue and attack the ruling Trinamul Congress ahead of the Assembly elections.
From state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh to central leaders like Rahul Sinha, all tore into chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s rule.
Mr Ghosh, the
Midnapore MP, alleged, “This proves that the anti-national activities are taking place mostly in Bengal and Kerala. The present government here does not give importance to national security. The TMC is allowing Islamic fundamentalism for its votebank politics to stay in power. As a result the country’s security is at stake.” Mr Sinha, BJP national secretary, said, “Bengal has become a safe heaven for the terrorists because of lack of actions of the present state government which should shun appease
ment politics.”
Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar also did not miss the opportunity.
Describing his role of ‘In service of WB’ he tweeted, “NIA busts AlQaeda module in Murshidabad, WB. DGP on this alarming affairs @MamataOfficial to me “West Bengal police firmly adheres to the path laid down by law. There is no discrimination for or against anyone in an extra legal sense.”
He added, “State has become home to illegal bomb making that has potential to unsettle
democracy. Police @MamataOfficial busy in carrying out political errands and taking on opposition. Those at helm @WBPolice cannot escape their accountability for this alarming decline in law and order.”
Rejecting the BJP’s allegations, senior TMC MP Sougata Roy, however, pointed fingers on the Border Security Force. He questioned its lack of vigil at the Indo-Bangla border which, he blamed, allowed the terrorists into the state from neighbouring country.