With Arrest Of Two More Ansarullah Bangla Team ‘Jihadis’ And Recovery Of Explosive Materials, Assam Police Averts Terror Attack

On Tuesday (24 December), the Assam Police’s Special Task Force (STF) apprehended two additional individuals suspected of having connections with the Al-Qaeda affiliate, Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT). This follows the prior arrest of eight terror suspects.

The police have reported that a “significant terrorist event” has been prevented following the apprehension of two suspects, known as Abdul Zaher Sheikh and Sabbir Mirdha, in the Kokrajhar district, Indian Express reported.

On 19 December, the police in Assam detained eight individuals, which included a citizen of Bangladesh. These arrests, made in Assam, West Bengal, and Kerala, were a result of information provided by Mohammad Sad Radi, a Bangladeshi national.

Authorities reported that the individuals charged were dispatched to India as per the instructions of Jasimuddin Rahmani, the leader of the ABT.

Authorities have reported that the module was operating with the aim of setting up “sleeper cells throughout the nation”, particularly in Assam and West Bengal, with the intention to “initiate violent and subversive actions.”

“From our interrogations since 19 December when we had made our last catch, we have found that this is a large conspiracy against the country,” said Asam Special DGP Harmeet Singh.

“In continuation of Operation Praghat, STF Assam and Kokrajhar Police averted a major terror act that the ABT/AQIS Cell was preparing to perpetrate. Two jihadi cadres were arrested and a large cache of arms and war-like stores was seized,” Assam Police posted on X.

Items retrieved from a discovered hideout include four homemade guns and a ready-to-use improvised explosive device (IED), accompanied by explosive materials like circuits of detonators, electronic switches, iron cases for making IEDs, iron pieces and plates.

“They can cause huge destruction when placed in IEDs. Huge numbers of switches, wires and explosives taken out from firecrackers, so a lot of explosives. Handmade grenade, as well as four numbers of handmade rifles which look like AK-47s,” the DGP said.

“Now we are tracing where these handmade rifles are coming from. 34 rounds of live ammunition and 24 rounds of blank cartridges. Finding blank cartridges means that they have practised. So a major terror incident has been averted,” he added.

Source » swarajyamag.com