Assam police look into possible IS links with arrested Bangladesh youths

Police in the Indian state of Assam suspect four Bangladeshi youths arrested in Karimganj on charges of trespassing may have links with the Islamic State.

Dilip Kumar Sharmabdnews24.com
Published : 25 August 2016, 04:40 PM
Updated : 25 August 2016, 04:46 PM

They believe the four, now being interrogated, had entered India with plans to link up with militant organisations. But, police have not released any clear statement in this case.

The youths had apparently crossed the border into India to seek help from a person in Dubai to acquire Indian passports. Police are now trying to find which country these Bangladeshi youths were planning to travel to from India.

Assam police have gathered several important details during their interrogation about a network being created in certain areas in Assam's Barak Valley where Indian passports can be made.

They have taken these four into 14-day remand in an attempt to glean more information.

Karimganj district Superintendent of Police PR Kar said three of the youths entered India illegally on the night of Aug 14 even though security along the Indian border was tight ahead of the Independence Day, a fact that betrays their desperation. The youths told police that they came here to acquire Indian passports.

Assam police had also arrested two Indian linkmen who were supposed to help them get hold of the passports. Police are also trying to learn how many people from Bangladesh entered India and acquired passports so far in a similar manner.

SP Kar has identified the four youths as Suman Ahmed, Dilwar Hussain, Sabir Ahmed and Sahil Ahmed. They told police that another of their associates, Abdul Ahad, had died of a heart attack, but the body has been sent for post mortem.

The two Indians have been identified as Shajahan Ahmed and Moinul Haque Choudhury of village Khagrail in Karimganj district. Two more people have also been arrested but the police have not disclosed their identities.

According to the SP, police have recovered a Bangladeshi passport from them.

The SP said Bangladeshis apply for Indian passport by taking up a person's name from the voter list along with the father's name and address. 
 
The link men, or touts, make them digital photo voter identity cards in computer shops where their own photos are added and the card and number remain the same. 
 
Even Panchayat certificate are being issued against these names. Bangladeshis appear with these identity cards and address proof at the regional passport offices and have their photos taken there. The same photos are sent to police for verification. 
 
The SP admitted that in several cases, police do not conduct a thorough field verification. 

In the case of these four Bangladeshi youths, a person named Nizamuddin who resides in Saudi Arabia was helping them, police said. 
 
Nizamuddin would give directions to the local contact man, Shajahan, to manage everything from providing accommodation to making passports for Bangladeshis who come to India. But where these people go once they get hold of relevant documents is still unknown.

According to a local villager, the Bangladeshis and the Indian linkmen were arrested while disposing of a dead body identified as that of Ahad. According to police, all the youths were residents of Sylhet district.
 
The gang of six entered through the porous Balia border of Karimganj although their destination has not been ascertained. 
 
They were found riding a Tata Iris vehicle which was also seized by police. All of them were brought to Nilambazar Police Station for interrogation by OC Alim Uddin Mazumder. But later, SP Kar brought all of them to the town police station where they were subjected to intense grilling.

According to a source in the Assam government, the Indian foreign ministry is trying to contact Bangladesh authorities for more details about the four youths. 
 
After a meeting of security officials, security has been tightened along the India-Bangladesh border and information has also been sent to the Indian home ministry. 
India has taken the IS claims for the two recent terror attacks in Bangladesh seriously. With news of disappearance of local youths from Bangladesh appearing in the media on a regular basis, Indian security agencies are taking the Bangladeshi youths' entry seriously.