• Assam CM considers the hardline policy on Al-Qaeda-linked Madrasas

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    Assam CM considers the hardline policy on Al-Qaeda-linked Madrasas

    The state government of Assam has already closed all state-owned madrassas.


    Digital Desk: After twelve alleged Jihadis with links to the Bangladesh-based terrorist outfit Ansarul Bangla Workforce (ABT), which is affiliated with the global terror outfit Al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), were arrested across two districts in Assam. 


    Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the state is considering introducing the registration of Quami or private-run madrassas.


    Mufti Mustafa, a madrassa trainer, and Ashraful, a native dealer, were among the 12 suspected Jihadis apprehended by police. 


    Aside from the arrest, the Jamiul madrassa has been sealed, and four Bannat madrassa lecturers have been detained for questions about their affiliations.


    In a tweet, the Assam Police said the "alleged Jihadis were apprehended in Morigaon, Barpeta, Guwahati, and Goalpara as part of a major anti-terrorist operation." 



    "In a major crackdown on anti-national, Jihadi elements, Assam Police arrested 11 people from Morigaon, Barpeta, Guwahati, and Goalpara." They're linked to Islamic fundamentalist organizations with ties to global terror outfits like AQIS and ABT," Assam Police added to the statement.


    On July 28, Morigaon police arrested Mufti Mustafa based on intelligence inputs because of his suspected links with Ansarul Islam.


    Mustafa, a Bhopal graduate in Islamic Regulation, founded the Jamiul Huda Madrassa in Saharia village in Morigaon district in 2018. According to Assam Police chiefs, Mufti had housed a Bangladeshi national and member of the terror group in his madrassa.


    He also offered him a SIM card and logistical assistance.


    According to Superintendent of Police Morigan, Mustafa's financial institution records revealed several monetary transactions with Ansarul Islam activists Amiruddin Ansari and Mamun Rashid, who were arrested in Kolkata and Barpeta, respectively, just a few months ago. 


    The SP also stated that Mustafa not only received funds from overseas sources in 2019 but also disbursed them domestically.


    When asked about the rising threat of terrorist attacks in the state, Assam Chief Minister Sarma stated, "Jihad should not be a problem." We have now arrested individuals with ties to these organizations. The financial institution accounts show that funding from Bangladesh has been obtained.


    Furthermore, that is primarily based on intelligence from the Bengaluru National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID)."


    "Assam is considering introducing registration of Quami madrassas within the state to stop the use of public madrassas to run Jihadi activities," Sarma said. Meanwhile, the Assam government has closed all state-owned madrassas.


    In coordination with national police agencies, ten Jihadis were arrested in Barpeta within 48 hours for their alleged ties to AQIS and ABT. 


    On Thursday, an NIA team arrived in Morigaon to investigate the link between the arrests made in the previous 72 hours.


    Rapid action by the National Intelligence Grid and Assam Police assisted the NIA in locating the main points of the fear module in Morigon. After the Barpeta module, this is the second module of the Jihadi operation in Assam that the NIA is investigating. Assam police have apprehended 5 active Al-Qaeda and ABT modules.


    "In Assam, personal madrassas are Jihad factories, and we're sitting on a ticking bomb that could detonate at any time." "It is past time to close these madrassas," said Shiladitya Deb, Chairman of the Assam State Linguistic Minority Board.


    In a significant explanation for concern, Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri appealed to Muslims in April to establish an Indian branch of his militant group to "raise the flag of jihad" throughout South Asia. 


    Zawahiri recently released a video message in which he calls for a 'Hijra,' which means 'to go to Assam,' and raises concerns for all safety organizations.


    "Al Qaeda has spread to higher Assam and is no longer confined to districts such as Dhubri, Goalpara, Barpeta, and South Assam," said Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, Director General of Police Assam.



    "Militant groups are consistently attempting to focus on Assam." They are entering the state via Bangladesh. They are attempting to impress the state's Muslim youths by providing 'Hadith' schooling to them," the DGP added.


    In the last three months, approximately 20 people suspected of being affiliated with the Ansarul Bangla Workforce have been arrested in Assam for allegedly carrying out jihadi activities.


    The Assam Police arrested Abbas Ali, 22, of Pakhiura village in Goalpara district, on Wednesday for allegedly providing shelter to an Ansarullah Bangla Workforce (ABT) member at his home and busting a sleeper cell module.


    "Mehbub is a key ABT member who provided coaching and was concerned about radicalization." We want to find Mehbub through Ali. Mehbub trained young people from all over the world in psychological warfare, required them to learn spiritual documents, and provided physical training. "He assisted in forming the first stage of a sleeper cell within the space," Sarbananda Sonowal explained.


    According to chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the reason for the surge of Islamic fundamentalist teams working within the state is most likely a 'pitfall' scenario for the fear teams in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh government is extremely strict with fundamentalist teams, forcing them to flee to neighboring Assam.


    "These modules are extremely slow. They first attempt to reach out to people as social workers and religious preachers, after which they indoctrinate them into Jihadi ideology. However, in Assam, they may not have much success because society, in general, will not accept it and will alert police about such actions," said Hiren Nath, Assam Police extra DGP (particular department).