GUWAHATI, Dec 14 � The Jamaat-ul-Mujaheedin, Bangladesh (JMB) was trying to establish a full-fledged network in Assam, particularly in the Muslim-dominated areas and trained up several persons specifically for the purpose. This vital information came to light during the questioning of Sahanur Alom, one of the key persons of the JMB in Assam and other members of the outfit arrested in Assam and West Bengal.
Highly placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that at least ten people were specially trained by the JMB for establishing the network of the outfit in Assam. They have already fanned out to different parts of Assam to try and motivate persons to join the fold of the outfit. �The security agencies are now aware of the network of the JMB in Assam. But it is premature to reveal the names of the key persons who are still at large,� sources added.
Sources said that according to information available, the JMB started trying to establish bases in Assam after the ethnic riots in the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts (BTAD) area in 2012 where more than a hundred people were killed. The JMB took advantage of the situation and started exploring the possibility of expanding bases in the State. The main aims of the JMB were to establish strong roots in the State �not only to protect the Muslim community but also to take revenge of killing of innocents.� It is now an established fact that a number of persons from Assam were trained in West Bengal, but no one still knows the exact number of the members of the outfit in the State. The exact number of the JMB operatives in the State would be ascertained only after the entire network of the outfit is busted, sources admitted.
Sources said that one Bangladeshi national, who is a key operative of the JMB, visited Assam a few times. He also visited Meghalaya and Tripura. But it is not known whether he is still in this part of the country and security forces are on the lookout for him.
The JMB, which is banned in Bangladesh, is believed to have links with the Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). Sources pointed out that the JMB considers the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as its main enemy and that is why the outfit sometimes gets assistance from other anti-establishment forces in the neighbouring country. As Hasina is known to be close to India, the outfit is believed to be receiving help from the Pakistani agency.
It may be mentioned here that after busting the network of the JMB in Burdwan, more than 200 bombs were recovered and it was also learnt that the outfit managed to send three consignments of bombs prepared in India to Bangladesh.