The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has intensified its efforts against terror networks by executing simultaneous raids at ten locations across five Indian states. This operation, conducted on Wednesday, is aimed at disrupting an alleged Al-Qaeda terror conspiracy involving the illegal entry and activities of Bangladeshi immigrants. The states under scrutiny include West Bengal, Tripura, Meghalaya, Haryana, and Gujarat, where premises linked to key suspects were searched.
During the extensive searches, NIA officials seized a significant haul of evidence, including various digital devices and crucial documents. These materials are now undergoing detailed forensic examination to extract actionable intelligence. The agency believes these seized items will provide critical insights into the operational structure, funding sources, and communication methods employed by the suspected Al-Qaeda operatives.
The case, registered as RC-19/2023/NIA/DLI, was initiated by the NIA in June 2023. Charges have been filed under stringent laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UA(P) Act), the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and the Foreigners Act. The investigation has identified four Bangladeshi nationals – Mohd. Sojibmiyan, Munna Khalid Ansari alias Munna Khan, Azarul Islam alias Jahangir alias Aakash Khan, and Abdul Latif alias Mominul Ansari – who are alleged to have infiltrated India using fabricated Indian identity documents.
The NIA has confirmed that these individuals are associated with the globally proscribed terrorist organization Al-Qaeda. Their alleged complicity involves not only financially supporting Al-Qaeda in Bangladesh but also engaging in the insidious process of radicalizing youth. The agency detailed that these operatives were involved in the collection and transfer of funds to Al-Qaeda operatives in Bangladesh and were actively engaged in motivating Muslim youth to join their extremist cause.
This operation builds upon prior enforcement actions, including the filing of a chargesheet against five accused individuals in November 2023 before the NIA Special Court in Ahmedabad. The investigation is actively ongoing, with a primary focus on mapping the network’s cross-border ties and complex financial operations. The NIA is dedicated to uncovering the full extent of this terror network’s reach and neutralizing its threat.