JMB terrorists may have slipped into city, cops bolster security

Kolkata: Kolkata Police has stepped up vigilance across Kolkata, suspecting that one or more Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) terrorists might be hiding in the city.

According to sources, on Saturday after arresting a JMB terrorist identified as Ariful Islam, alias Arif, alias Ataur, alias Akjtarul, alias Mota Anas, alias Shahid of Barpeta in Assam, sleuths from Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police came to know that he was sent to Kolkata to recce the transit situation of Kausar alias Bomaru Mijan, who is currently in judicial custody in connection with the Khagragarh blast case.

Ariful was produced before the Bankshall Court and later remanded to STF custody. During interrogation, police came to know that Ariful was sent to Kolkata only to recce the transit routes between Alipore Jail to Bankshall Court, which are being used to take Kausar from jail to court and return.

Kausar was arrested by National Investigation Agency (NIA) from Bengaluru during August last year. Coincidentally, Ariful was provided shelter in Bengaluru by Kausar.

Sleuths are interrogating Ariful to know with whom and where he was staying in Kolkata. Security in the bus terminuses and railway stations has been increased.

Police also came to know that at present, JMB is going through a financial crunch in India. To manage funds, JMB members have committed several robberies. Ariful is also connected with multiple such crimes in Bengaluru.

After doing the recce, Ariful somehow understood that he needed more preparation and thus he was trying to leave Kolkata on Saturday, when he was nabbed from Babughat. Sleuths are trying to find out where he was going.

Previously, he had implemented such operations in Bangladesh, to release Kausar from Bangladesh Police successfully. He was working in Kolkata to carry out similar plans.

Sources informed that the NIA may appeal before the concerned court to take Ariful in their custody for interrogation, as he was marked as absconding in the Bodh Gaya blast case.