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Bangla militants linked to Al-Qaeda

Bangla militants linked to Al-Qaeda

Author: Saugar Sengupta/Kolkata
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: November 20, 2002

Investigations revealed that the two Bangladeshi militants arrested on Saturday night by the Kolkata Police belong to the Islamic Aikya Front of Bangladesh. The outfit is a cover organisation for Al-Qaeda activists operating from that country, intelligence sources said, adding, the arrested militants had been trained by the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).

The two Bangladeshi nationals Liaqat Hussein Liaqat and Arman Khan picked up by the police from the New Market area are dreaded history-sheeters of Bangladesh - operating from Dhaka, Chattagram, Rajshahi and Khulna on the other side of the border - carrying rewards of Rs 1.5 lakh each on their heads, Deputy Commissioner Detective Department, Soumen Mitra, revealed.

In fact, Liaqat was carrying a 9 mm pistol of Italian make and 17 rounds of bullets when he was arrested in front of a theatre.

The militants are involved in over 40 cases of murder, extortion and robbery in Bangladesh, Mr Mitra maintained. A senior police official said, "The militants had come to Kolkata with an aim to spread terror. We have recovered several sensitive documents including maps and documents related to defence installations from these militants."

A close scrutiny of the militants' passports revealed that they were in Kolkata for the last two months.

They had entered Kolkata via Haridaspur in North 24 Parganas, police said. "They had fooled their landlord into believing that they had come to India for treatment," said Mr Mitra.

Saturday's arrests have sent a wave of shock among the police brass as interrogations have revealed that both Liaqat and Arman had put up in the upmarket locality of Garia Gardens.

Earlier the militants or their contacts generally preferred Tiljala, Beniapukur or Park Circus areas. However, what has sent alarm bells ringing in police quarters is that the militants had chosen a more cosmopolitan area inhabited by comparatively well to do sections. The Kolkata Police is likely to renew its efforts to maintain a list of new tenants throughout the city, top police sources said.

Meanwhile, seven more Bangladeshi nationals have been arrested and investigations about their antecedents are on, police said adding whether they also belong to the Al-Qaeda network was being ascertained.
 


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