Bangladeshi terror group sleeper cell targeted Siliguri corridor, northeast states at risk: Police

The West Bengal Police on December 21 said that a sleeper cell of the Bangladesh-based terror group Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) was planning to target the strategically vital Siliguri corridor, a narrow stretch connecting India’s northeastern states to the rest of the country. This corridor, often referred to as the "chicken’s neck," holds immense geopolitical significance.

The arrests of eight individuals across Kerala, Assam, and West Bengal have exposed a transnational network of the banned terror group. ABT, a splinter faction of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, has been outlawed in India, Bangladesh, the UK, and the US. Among the arrested were two suspects detained from Murshidabad district in West Bengal on December 18, in a joint operation by the Special Task Forces (STF) of Assam and West Bengal Police.

Inspector General (IG) of West Bengal STF, Gaurav Sharma, stated that the sleeper cell aimed to exploit communal and economic vulnerabilities to recruit local youth. The alleged mastermind, Farhan Ishrat, reportedly sent an operative, Saad Radi, from Bangladesh to India to spearhead recruitment efforts. Radi is believed to have traversed Kerala, Assam, and West Bengal before being apprehended during coordinated raids.

“The objective was clear: to activate the Siliguri corridor as a base for terror activities,” said Supratim Sarkar, Additional Director General of Police (ADG), South Bengal.

Two of the accused, identified as Minarul Sheikh (48) and Md Abbas Ali (29), were arrested from Hariharpara in Murshidabad. While Sheikh is a pump mechanic, Ali has a criminal history, including charges of kidnapping and sexual assault under the POCSO Act. Evidence seized includes multiple mobile phones, documents, and a 16GB pen drive, now under scrutiny by Assam STF.

The STF is particularly interested in uncovering the group’s action plan and potential links to activities in West Bengal and Assam.

The arrests come amid heightened tensions in the region following reports of communal violence in Bangladesh and arrests of individuals linked to extremist activities. This includes the recent detention of a former Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader in Kolkata and the controversial arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das.

Authorities across the northeastern states, including Assam, Meghalaya, and Tripura are on high alert, given the strategic importance of the Siliguri corridor. Joint interrogations and investigations are expected to provide further insights into the terror network's plans.