National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday carried out searches at 10 locations in connection with the Al-Qaeda Bangladesh terror conspiracy involving illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. The raids took place across five states, including West Bengal, Tripura, Meghalaya, Haryana, and Gujarat. The operation comes in the wake of the recent blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, as security agencies increased efforts to find out a wider terror network operating across the country.
According to NIA, searches were conducted at premises linked with various suspects and their associates at the selected locations. NIA, in an official statement, said, “Several digital devices and incriminating documents were seized during the searches and are being sent for forensic analysis.” The raids in different states were conducted under the case, which was originally registered by NIA in June 2023 under various sections of UA(P) Act, IPC and the Foreigners Act. [RC-19/2023/NIA/DLI (Al-Qaida Gujarat case)]
The investigation in the case so far has revealed that four Bangladeshi nationals, identified as Mohd. Sojibmiyan, Munna Khalid Ansari alias Munna Khan, Azarul Islam alias Jahangir alias Aakash Khan, and Abdul Latif alias Mominul Ansari had illegally infiltrated into India from Bangladesh using forged Indian identity documents.
The NIA further said that the suspected individuals were involved in funding Al-Qaeda in Bangladesh and radicalising youth. It said, “They were found to be connected with the proscribed Al-Qaida terrorist organisation.” The men were also involved in collecting funds and transferring funds to Al Qaida operatives in Bangladesh.
The official statement from NIA noted that, “Investigation in the case is continuing as part of NIA’s efforts to uncover the terror network’s presence, linkages, and financial channels operating within India and across the border.” On November 10 2023, NIA filed a chargesheet against five accused persons before the NIA Special Court, Ahmedabad.
(With IANS Inputs)