Al-Qaeda module busted: 4 Bangladeshis arrested

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) busted an Al-Qaeda module and arrested four Bangladeshi nationals who were living in the city on forged identity documents.
Based on a specific input from the central IB, Gujarat ATS first picked up Mohammad Sojib from Rakhial for questioning. Sojib told ATS officials that he and three others are part of Al-Qaeda’s network and were taking instructions from their Bangladesh-based handler Shariful Islam.
The ATS subsequently nabbed Munna Khalid Ansari, Azharul Islam Ansari and Mominul Ansari, all natives of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh, from the Narol area of the city where they were working in factories as Indian citizens. The ATS found Aadhaar and PAN cards and some literature published by the terror outfit’s media wing As-Sahab Media from the rented rooms of the trio. This is a major crack-down by ATS ahead of the 146th Rathyatra in the city.
“Mohammed Sojib was inspired by the ideology of Al-Qaeda and was in the city to recruit more youths and radicalize them. Sojib was taking instructions from his handler Shariful Islam who is said to be based in Bangladesh. Sojib was introduced to Shariful Islam by Shayba — head of Al-Qaeda’s operations in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district,” said an ATS official.
“They were tasked with raising funds for Al-Qaeda’s illegal activities, radicalising local youths and persuading them to join the terror outfit. They were also trained to use encrypted chat applications, TOR and VPN,” the official said.
“The four accused were in touch with more such radicalized persons in Gujarat and outside the state. The members of this terror module were instructed to sacrifice their money and life in the name of religion that is carrying out suicide attacks. The accused have confessed that another member Abdul Latif alias Mominul Ansari has also entered India illegally from Bangladesh, and is propagating the ideology of Al-Qaeda. He is also collecting funds for carrying out terror attacks,” added the ATS official.
According to ATS sources, the accused have been booked under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and under Sections 38, 39 and 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Accused had Aadhar, PAN cards

ATS officials said that the four accused forged documents to make their Aadhaar and PAN cards. Apart from Gujarat, they had contacted youths from other states to radicalise them.

Source » ahmedabadmirror