The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has expanded its efforts against radicalisation and suspected cross-border terrorism by detaining the imam of a mosque in East Burdwan district, West Bengal. This action is linked to ongoing investigations into Imam Mahmuder Kafila (IMK), reportedly associated with the banned Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).

On Tuesday morning, NIA operatives apprehended Piyar Mohammad Sheikh, the imam of the main mosque in Palishgram village, and took him to a nearby police station for interrogation. Sheikh has been serving as the imam for approximately three years and resides in Kulut, within the Manteswar police jurisdiction. Investigators are reportedly exploring his connections to a prior incident in Guwahati, Assam.

During the operation, officials seized a diary and a mobile phone from Sheikh, which may assist in their inquiries. Local sources indicated that the NIA team visited the mosque early in the day and subsequently questioned Sheikh at the police station. Community members expressed concern, as the imam had been a respected figure in the area.

Larger Crackdown on Terror Networks

This detention is part of a broader operation by the NIA targeting alleged networks involved in radicalising youth and forging connections with extremist groups. Concurrently, authorities apprehended six individuals in Assam’s Barpeta district for their purported roles in “jihadi” activities aimed at recruiting young men into Islamic fundamentalist organisations.

The NIA launched searches late on Monday in areas under the Howly, Barpeta Road, and Sorbhog police stations, resulting in the arrest of three individuals in the Sorbhog area, two from Barpeta Road, and one from Howly. The individuals detained have been identified as Faruk Abdullah, Zakir Hussain, Chandbar Ali, Mustafizur Rahman, Yakub Ali, and Rakibul Islam. Among the seized items during searches were various documents, mobiles, and a laptop.

Officials stated that those arrested allegedly had connections to IMK, positioned as an offshoot of JMB. Notably, Mustafizur Rahman, who operates a clothing store, had been previously detained by the Assam Police Special Task Force but was released on bail three months prior to this incident. Rakibul Islam, engaged in poultry business in Arunachal Pradesh, returned home just two weeks before his arrest, raising significant concerns in his community.

Investigative Progress and Future Focus

The recent operations extend across 16 locations in Assam, West Bengal, and Kerala, with ten targeting sites in Assam, five in West Bengal, and one in Kerala. These actions are linked to the alleged IMK-sponsored cross-border terror plot, which has raised alarm among law enforcement agencies. This operation follows a chargesheet filed by the NIA three months earlier against eleven individuals charged under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, in a special court in Guwahati.

Investigators have revealed that IMK was reportedly established by senior JMB member Imam Mahmud Habibullah with the intention of promoting the organisation’s ideology in India. NIA officers have indicated that the network has endeavoured to expand its influence in West Bengal and the northeastern states, including Assam and Tripura, via secretive meetings, religious indoctrination sessions, and the distribution of extremist literature.

The agency has identified key figures within this network, including Nasimuddin, allegedly orchestrating IMK’s activities in Assam, and Jagir Mia, suspected to be its leader in Tripura. As the investigation continues, the NIA is expected to delve deeper into the network’s recruitment strategies and its broader implications across eastern and northeastern India.

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