In a major nationwide intelligence-led operation, the Special Task Force (STF) of Assam Police has dismantled a terror module linked to a global radical organisation. Eight people, including a Bangladeshi national caught in Kerala, were arrested in the operation conducted with the help of Kerala and West Bengal police.
Special Director General of Police (SDGP) Harmeet Singh said at a press conference, “Several meetings were held in Murshidabad and Falakata, where participants held extensive discussions on targeting members of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and other Hindu organizations . “During these meetings, they hatched a plan to assassinate prominent religious and Hindu leaders.”
The operation, codenamed ‘Praghat’, was launched following detailed intelligence inputs about anti-national activities conducted by individuals associated with the banned Al-Qaeda affiliate Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) in the Indian subcontinent. Those arrested also include Bangladeshi national Mohammad Saad Radi, who was instrumental in setting up sleeper cells across India to propagate extremist ideology and carry out subversive activities.
The STF registered an FIR under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 and the Passport Act, 1967. In this operation which took place between 17 and 18 December, eight persons including a Bangladeshi national were arrested. Mohammed Saad Radi alias Shab Sheikh (36), who was caught in Kerala without valid travel documents.
