Six operatives of the Jammat-Ul-Mujahideen, Bangladesh (JMB) have been arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) of the Kolkata Police. While five of them were arrested on Saturday, another person was arrested on Monday morning. Four of them are wanted in the Bardhaman blast case.
Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Police (STF) Vishal Garg told journalists that “they [the JMB operatives] were probably planning some subversive activities either in the Northeastern States or in South India.” Among the six arrested, Moulana Yusuf, Sahidul Islam and Abul Kalam are from India and Anwar Hussain, Md. Rubel and Jahidul Islam from Bangladesh, whereas .
“We will produce them in court and plead for police custody,” said Mr. Garg. Apart from Islam, who was arrested from the Cachar district of Assam, the rest were arrested from different parts of Bengal.
Police said that Moulana Yusuf, Sahidul Islam, Abul Kalam and Jahidul Islam were wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the Bardhaman blast case. SD cards, a laptop and 2 kgs of ‘white’ powder, and ball bearings were seized from the accused. “Prima facie, it seems that the white powder is some kind of explosive. We will send it for forensic examination,” said Mr. Garg.
According to the police, Mr. Hussain is the head of the JMB unit in Bengladesh, Islam is the head of the organisation in the Northeast. Rubel and Kalam are trained in making IEDs.
