India to probe Al-Qaeda plans to fight for Rohingyas: Indian Express

India has asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to investigate a suspected Al-Qaeda operative in custody who was allegedly attempting to set up base camps for Rohingya fighters, the Indian Express reports.

Samiun Rahman, alias Shumon Haq, alias Raju Bhai was arrested on Sept 18 in Delhi. He claimed to be a UK citizen and says he has been an active member of Al-Qaeda since 2013.

Rahman was arrested on the same day central police describing Rohingya refugees as a “very serious and potential threat to national security” in an affidavit to India’s Supreme Court.

According to Indian Express sources, investigators have suggested Rahman may have been involved in coordinating national operations.

Investigators say Rahman had been in communication with handlers in Bangladesh and Pakistan using cloud-based instant messaging service Teelgram.

A Special Cell official told The Indian Express that Rahman had visited Morocco, Mauritania, Turkey, Syria, Bangladesh and India on ‘suspected terror activities’.

Rahman was allegedly arrested in Bangladesh on suspicion of militant activities in 2014, but was later released on bail in 2017. Indian police say he helped radicalise dozens of youths in Sylhet, Dhaka and other places.

The Special Cell said Rahman had arrived in India in July to “set up base in Mizoram and Manipur, raise funds and incite the youth to fight for the cause of the Rohingya and facilitate their entry from Mizoram and Manipur borders with Myanmar,” The Indian Express said.

Indian investigators say they hope to work with authorities in Bangladesh to probe the matter.