In a shocking revelation, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has confirmed the inputs on terror outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) using Madrasas in Burdwan and Murshidabad in West Bengal for radicalization and recruitment activities.
Minister of State for Home Affairs: There are inputs of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh using some Madrasas in Burdwan&Murshidabad for radicalization & recruitment. Relevant inputs are regularly shared with State Govts & agencies concerned with advice to take appropriate action. https://t.co/YhPlzj7Jva
— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2019
According to reports, JMB has set up terror factories in the border areas of Bangladesh and West Bengal. The reports also refer to the possibility of the presence and support of Pakistan based terror outfit, Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists in these camps.
The terrorists have not only been using these areas as hideouts but have also carried out recruitments for the bordering areas. These recruitments are done through madrasas and mosques. Their networks are especially active in Murshidabad, Malda, and Nadia districts of West Bengal and parts of Muslim-majority districts in Assam.
The central government has already declared JMB as a terrorist organisation on May 23. After the Burdwan blast, that took place in a house in Burdwan district, on October 2, 2014, a probe into the incident had branded West Bengal as a breeding ground of terror logistics.
A person, identified as Sakil Gazi, had died in the incident. An investigation into the incidence was conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which said that the blast had JMB’s involvement. The members of the JMB were essentially wanting to establish Sharia rule by overthrowing the democratically elected government in Bangladesh.
Investigations by the Central agencies had then revealed that illegal madrasas had mushroomed across West Bengal and behind these illegal madrasas there were terror networks that had links with extremists in Bangladesh.
During the investigations in 2014, a number of madrasas had come under the scanner of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), National Security Guard (NSG), Intelligence Bureau (IB), etc. The NIA and NSG investigators had carried out an extensive search at Simulia madrasa under Mongalkote police station in Burdwan and also at Mukimnagar in Murshidabad’s Lalgola.
Sources had said these subversive units, several of whom were members of the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), became operational in the state since October 2011, as their members had infiltrated into India and have been operating with the help of local support.
It is believed that the handlers of terror outfits like JMB rope in unemployed youths preferably from Muslim community to expand their networks in border districts of West Bengal.
The JMB module which executed the Burdwan blast in 2014 had later executed a similar blast in Bodh Gaya in Bihar when people had gathered to hear the Dalai Lama.
Moreover, the MoS for Home affairs GK Reddy on being asked in Lok Sabha on violence in West Bengal during LS polls also said that that information has been received about a number of incidents of violence before and after Lok Sabha election 2019, resulting in death and injuries of several people, including political workers in West Bengal.
He said concern on the issue was shared by Centre with the West Bengal government and an advisory was issued on June 9 asking State to maintain law & order, peace & public tranquillity.
Minister of State for Home Affairs, GK Reddy on being asked in Lok Sabha on violence in West Bengal during LS polls: Concern on issue was shared by Centre with State Govt & advisory was issued on June 9 asking State to maintain law & order, peace & public tranquility. (File pic) pic.twitter.com/wAx96ioLql
— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2019
Madrasas across the country have been a breeding ground for various illegal activities. The deep penetration of JMB inside several states in India had been highlighted before when a top JMB operative Kausar Ali alias Mohammad Jahidul Islam’s arrest had exposed the dreaded terrorist organisation’s plans to launch jihad in various Indian states.
