NIA Files Chargesheet Against 2 Members Of Assam-based Terror Module Linked To Al-Qaeda

Two active members of a terror organization module with ties to Al-Qaeda that operates out of Assam have been charged in a new chargesheet, filed against them by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday. The accused conspired to execute terror attacks across the nation.

The defendants, identified as Akbar Ali and Kalam Azad, worked together with the other accused as a functioning unit of the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), a banned organization linked to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), to encourage and promote terrorism.

According to the NIA, they were working to bolster the Al-Qaeda and ABT networks and train young people to carry out terrorist attacks.

The NIA apprehended Akbar Ali and Abul Kalam Azad on April 5 and accused them of numerous offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Last year in August, the anti-terror investigation agency initially filed the chargesheet against eight other suspects.

Following the discovery of the ABT module’s operations, the case was originally brought by the Assam Police on March 4, 2022, and was taken over by the NIA on March 22 of that same year under the pertinent provisions of the IPC, UA(P) Act, Passports Act, and Foreigners Act.

Saiful Islam, a Bangladeshi national, served as the module’s leader and it was active in the Barpeta district of Assam.

The NIA claimed that the Bangladeshi controllers of the module, Zakir and Mehboor Rahman, actively directed the radicalization and mobilization of Muslims.

Saiful Islam was “actively engaged in indoctrinating and radicalising Muslims to join jihadi outfits to work in modules for building a base for Al-Qaeda and its various manifestations/outfits in India,” according to the NIA.

The Bangladeshi controllers of the module and other individuals involved in promoting and carrying out terrorism for Al-Qaeda and ABT in the nation are being sought after, the agency claimed.

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