The Assam police detained two alleged terrorists in the Goalpara district on Saturday. They are thought to have ties to the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) and Al-Qaeda Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) terror organisations, news agency ANI reported.
After being interrogated by the police for many hours, the two people who were detained have been identified as Abdus Subhan, the imam of Tinkunia Shantipur Mosque under Mornoi police station, and Jalaluddin Sheikh, the imam of Tilapara Natun Mosque under Matia police station in Goalpara.
Both of the aforementioned individuals were detained following hours of interrogation, according to V.V. Rakesh Reddy, Superintendent of Police (SP) of the Goalpara district.
"We have gotten input in July this year from arrested Abbas Ali who is also linked with Jihadi elements. During the interrogation, we found that they were directly connected with Barpeta and Morigaon modules of AQIS/ABT in Assam," the SP was quoted by ANI in its report.
"During the house searches of the accused persons, a number of incriminating material related to the Al-Qaeda, Jihadi elements, posters, books among other documents were seized along with the mobile phones, SIM cards and ID cards," he added.
According to the top Assam police officer, the defendants also provided logistical support to the Jihadi militants who arrived from Bangladesh.
"The Bangladeshi nationals are absconding and the arrested terrorists had given shelter to the Bangladeshi terrorists in Goalpara. The arrested persons had organized one Dharma Sabha in December 2019 at Sundarpur Tilapara Madrassa under the Matia police station where many Bangladeshi nationals with linkages to AQIS were invited as guest speakers," the police official said.
He also said that the people who were detained were involved in providing logistical assistance and housing for the Bangladeshi nationals who are now at large.
"They confessed being members of AQIS and recruited Ansars/Sleeper Cells in Goalpara and revealed direct funding and supports have come from the absconding Bangladeshi terrorists," SP V.V. Rakesh Reddy added.
Under sections 120(B), 121, and 121(A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) RW and sections 18, 18(B), 19, and 20 of the UA(P) Act, a new case has been opened at the Matia police station.
(With Inputs From ANI)