NEW DELHI, March 30 � Uncovering a sinister terror plot spanning across West Bengal, Assam and Jharkhand, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charged the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) with hatching a conspiracy to overthrow the democratically elected Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh.
The NIA filed a chargesheet in the court of its Special Judge, Kolkata in the case relating to the Burdwan blast, charged 21 individuals including four Bangladeshi nationals, for their involvement in the JMB conspiracy. It was alleged that the JMB was trying to overthrow the present democratic government in Bangladesh through violent acts of terror and replace it with a hardline Sharia-based Islamic rule. The fact came to light after the accidental Burdwan blast.
Among those who were chargesheeted included two accused from Assam, Sahanur Alam of village Chatla under Sarthebari Police Station and Shaikul Islam Khan alias Anwar alias Abdullah of Kahikuchi village under Barpeta Police Station.
A network of terrorist training camps at select madrassas and other hideouts was found to be in operation, where youths were indoctrinated into the violent jihadi ideology, as well as trained for violent action by using explosives and firearms. The effort of recruitment, radicalisation and training of vulnerable Indian youths was undertaken by members of JMB for preparing a large group of Indians based on their common religious and linguistic identity, primarily in the states bordering Bangladesh, to join the JMB and utilise them in the movement to overthrow the existing democratic government in Bangladesh, the NIA chargesheet alleged.
NIA, which was given the case on October 9 last year, spread out to a number of states and unearthed that the JMB had established its network in West Bengal, Assam and Jharkhand. Its activities in India primarily included recruitment, radicalisation and training of vulnerable youths in a systematic and organised manner.
The JMB had established organisational bases in Nadia, Burdwan, Murshidabad and Birbhum districts in West Bengal, and in Sahebganj district in Jharkhand. These bases were used for organising radicalisation programmes, organisational meetings, fund collection drives, hideouts for cadres and their families.
During investigation 32 persons had been arraigned as accused. Out of them 16 have been arrested so far, while eight are absconding. Over 250 witnesses were examined and around 100 searches were conducted in a large number of places across West Bengal, Assam and Jharkhand, leading to seizure of huge volumes of documents, computers, explosives, chemicals, arms and ammunition and other incriminating materials.
The accused persons have been individually charged for commission of various criminal
offences under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act as well as sections of the IPC and Arms Act, Explosive Substances Act, Passports Act and Foreigners Act.