Arrested in India, JMB operative Faruq wanted for 2014 Trishal militant snatching, home minister says

Bangladesh government has said that JMB operative, Anwar Hossain Faruq, who has been arrested in India, is the 'mastermind' of the 2014 snatching of detained militants from a prison van in Mymensingh.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 27 Sept 2016, 11:24 AM
Updated : 28 Sept 2016, 06:24 AM

"Faruq is wanted for the 2014 snatching of JMB militants at Trishal when a policeman was killed. Police have pressed charges against him over the incident," Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told the media on Tuesday.

"We have come to know that he has been arrested," Kamal told reporters on Tuesday adding that though “Bangladesh authorities were yet to be officially informed of Faruq's arrest by Indian authorities.”

He said if Faruq or anyone other detainees is found to be a Bangladeshi citizen he would be extradited from India.

The Special Task Force of Kolkata Police arrested six operatives of Jama'at-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) from West Bengal and Assam. Four of them are wanted in connection with the 2014 Burdwan blast in West Bengal.

Kolkata police said Faruq, who was arrested on Sunday from West Bengal's Bangaon, is the head of the JMB's West Bengal chapter.

“Explosives, detonators, forged IDs, laptops, mobile phones, and Bangladeshi and Indian currency were found in their possession,” police added.

On Feb 23, 2014, three JMB leaders Rakibul Hasan and Salauddin Salehin alias Sunny, and bomb expert 'Mizan' were snatched away from a prison van at Trishal.

Rakibul was recaptured on the same day and shot dead in ‘crossfire’ during the raid.

Police announced Tk 500,000 reward for information for each of the fugitives - Salehin and Mizan.

Faruq's name came up into the investigation of Burdwan blast. Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA) earlier handed a list of suspects, including Faruk, to Bangladesh officials.

Detective Branch officials then said 'Jamai Faruq' was leading a JMB faction as its main leader Maulana Saidur Rahman was in jail. They also suspected Faruq's involvement in the snatching of the JMB trios.