Major jehadi strikes in State feared

R Dutta Choudhury
GUWAHATI, Sept 24 – Though jehadi groups are yet to indulge in any major violence in Assam, security forces are of the view that the State might be sitting over a volcano, which might erupt at any moment. Series of blasts in different parts of the country including in the national capital sent shock waves among the security agencies and all the states of the country including Assam have been put on high alert to prevent any more major acts of violence by the jehadi groups.

Talking to The Assam Tribune, highly-placed security sources said that so far, no security agency has much input about the activities of the jehadi groups in Assam, which is the most disturbing aspect of the overall security scenario. Sources pointed out that the possibility of the jehadi elements expanding their network, particularly in the areas dominated by suspected Bangladeshi nationals cannot be ruled out. There is hardly, any security cover in the chars along the international border with Bangladesh and the possibility of elements of anti-India forces taking shelter in those places cannot be ruled out.

Sources said that till date, the security agencies are not aware of establishment of major network of the Indian Mujaheedin, which claimed the responsibility for the recent blasts in different parts of India and also of the Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) in Assam. But the fact remains that the jehadi elements usually work under one umbrella and take different names to suit them, while, the presence of jehadi groups like the Harkat Ul Jehadi Islami (HUJI) in Bangladesh is also a matter of serious concern for Assam. Because of the porous border, it is easy for the elements of anti-India forces and jehadi groups to cross over to Assam from Bangladesh and security sources also pointed out that several major acts of violence in different parts of India in recent years were linked back to Bangladesh, which proved beyond doubt the threat perception in Assam.

Sources further pointed out that no one was aware of the activities of the jehadi groups in Assam till the arrests of more than 40 activists of the Harkat Ul Mujaheedin (HUM) from different parts of Assam in the late 1990s and during that time, Indian security agencies came to know that at least 60 boys from Assam were taken to Pakistan for training. That was an eye opener for the police and security agencies and no one knows whether such attempts for training youths from Assam in Pakistan is still on and no one can rule out the possibility of the jehadi groups establishing “sleeper cells” in Assam to expand their network.

Replying to a question as to why the jehadi elements are keeping a low profile in Assam, sources pointed out that one of the reasons might be that they are not keen on attracting attention of the security forces, which may result in strengthening vigil along the border with Bangladesh. Moreover, their main agenda of encouraging infiltration of foreigners to the state has not been affected as yet, sources added. However, sources expressed apprehension that there is a serious threat of jehadi strikes in Assam if the Government launches an aggressive campaign against the illegal migrants.

However, at the same time, sources pointed out that the police and security forces come across intelligence inputs about possible jehadi attacks in Assam, particularly in Guwahati city from time to time. Just before the last Independence Day, the police came across an intelligence input about a possible jehadi attack in Guwahati, particularly in Guwahati railway station and even the names of the two SIMI members, who were entrusted with the job of providing support to the group, which was supposed to come to Assam to carry out the operation were also known to the police. The police and security forces were put on high alert and the jehadis could not carry out the plan.
SOURCE: ASSAM TRIBUNE