GUWAHATI, Oct 16 � Political connection of Jamaat-ul-Mujaheedin, Bangladesh (JMB) operatives in Assam may soon come to light as the police and security agencies have received some inputs in this regard. Meanwhile, the investigations also revealed that youths from Assam were taken not only to West Bengal, but also to Bangladesh for training.
Highly placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that two of the six arrested by the police from Barpeta for their alleged links with the JMB, were taken to Bangladesh for training. However, they did not stay in the neighbouring country for long and came back to India soon to spread the activities of the outfit. Sources admitted that it is still not known whether those were the only persons taken to Bangladesh or some others were also taken to the JMB bases.
On the political connection of the JMB operatives in Assam, sources revealed that the militants were in touch with a few political leaders and even approached one politician for funds. It is still not known whether the political leader gave money to the JMB operatives, but it is a fact that the politician did not inform the police after he was approached by the JMB for money. Anyone who receives demands for money from militants should inform the police immediately, but unfortunately, the politician contacted by the JMB operatives kept it a secret. Police and security agencies are now trying to get �conclusive evidence� of the inputs about the links between politicians and JMB operatives in Assam.
Sources admitted that two key operatives of the JMB in Assam are still absconding and efforts are on by the police and security forces to nab them. �Nabbing of those two key operatives is vital for unearthing the sources of funds of the JMB in Assam,� sources admitted.
During the investigation of the case, the police and security agencies also unearthed vital information about the modus operandi of the JMB for roping in new members and sympathizers. Some persons were given money to start some petty businesses and later they were roped in to the fold of the outfit. In one case, one petty trader was given burkhas worth Rs 75,000 so that he could earn money by selling the same and later efforts were made to rope him in to the JMB�s fold.
The JMB operatives also started collection of funds in small amounts to run the day-to-day activities of the outfit in Assam and the main aim at this juncture is to organise themselves. They are yet to hatch any plan to indulge in acts of violence in the State.
It may be mentioned here that the presence of JMB operatives in Assam came to light only after the recent blasts in Burdwan in West Bengal and investigation revealed that persons from Assam were taken to three madrassas in Burdwan and Murshidabad for training.
PTI adds from Tezpur: The northeast, particularly Assam is facing a serious threat from al-Qaeda and Jihadi militants, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal claimed today.
�There is information that the al-Qaeda has bases in most of the districts of Assam and we have to take a united stand against these fundamentalist forces,� Sonowal said on the sidelines of a function.
This is a national threat and the Centre has taken this issue very seriously, the Minister of State for Sports, Youth and Skill Development said.
