The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has seized documents during extensive simultaneous searches across India in connection with alleged activities promoted by some Bangladeshi nationals as part of terror group Al-Qaeda’s conspiracy to destabilise the country, the central agency said on Wednesday.
The crackdown in nine locations, linked with individuals suspected of supporting and funding the activities of the proscribed terrorist organisation Al-Qaida, started early on Monday in Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, West Bengal, Bihar, Tripura and Assam, the NIA said in a statement.
The searches led to the recovery of incriminating documents showing detailed banking transactions, digital devices including mobile phones, and other evidence related to terror funding activities.
As per NIA investigations, the suspects whose premises were raided are sympathisers of a Bangladesh-based Al-Qaida network. The searches were part of NIA’s ongoing investigations into a 2023 case pertaining to a
conspiracy orchestrated by Bangladesh-based Al-Qaida operatives in collaboration with the arrested individuals.
“The conspiracy was aimed at propagating Al-Qaida’s terrorist activities and radicalising gullible youths in India,” the NIA statement added.
In November, 2023, NIA had filed a chargesheet against five accused, including four Bangladeshi nationals, identified as Mohd. Sojibmiyan, Munna Khalid Ansari or Munna Khan, Azarul Islam Jahangir or Aakash Khan and Abdul Latif Mominul Ansari.
The fifth accused, Farid, is an Indian national.
NIA investigation into their antecedents had revealed that the accused had procured forged documents to carry out their activities covertly. They were actively involved in radicalising and motivating vulnerable Muslim youth in India, spreading Al-Qaida’s violent ideology, collecting funds and transferring these funds to Al-Qaida.
