In a major counter-terror operation, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has launched extensive searches across multiple states, including Meghalaya ‘s South Garo Hills as they visited Maheshkhola-Rongra area, as part of its probe into the Al-Qaida Gujarat terror conspiracy case involving illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators.
“Details I don’t have but yesterday they came to South Garo Hills and went back on the same day,” State Police Sources said adding “They went to Maheshkhola-Rongra area.”
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, responding to media queries, acknowledged the operation while underscoring its sensitive nature. “Basically, as far as the information that we have received, it’s happening in multiple locations and it’s based on obviously certain areas which they are trying to find out more details and information. And therefore it’s an investigation that’s going on linked to the obviously the bomb blast that took place in Delhi,” Sangma said.
Emphasising the importance of maintaining confidentiality, the Chief Minister added, “It would be not correct for me to go into details of the investigation because it is sensitive in nature and to do with national security. So, for us to talk about it in the press would be incorrect. All I want to say is that we are here to cooperate with them in every way possible, to ensure that whatever support and help required will be done. The investigation is on, and I don’t want to comment beyond that because it will compromise the investigation.”
According to press Statement, NIA teams simultaneously searched 10 locations across five states — West Bengal, Tripura, Meghalaya, Haryana, and Gujarat — targeting premises linked to suspected individuals and their associates. The agency seized several digital devices and incriminating documents, which have been sent for forensic analysis.
The case, RC-19/2023/NIA/DLI, registered in June 2023 under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Indian Penal Code, and the Foreigners Act, has uncovered a cross-border network tied to the banned Al-Qaida organisation.
NIA statement revealed that four Bangladeshi nationals — Mohd. Sojibmiyan, Munna Khalid Ansari alias Munna Khan, Azarul Islam alias Jahangir alias Aakash Khan, and Abdul Latif alias Mominul Ansari — had illegally infiltrated India using forged identity documents and were engaged in fund transfers and radicalisation of Muslim youth to support Al-Qaida’s operations in Bangladesh.
Earlier, on November 10, 2023, the NIA had filed a chargesheet against five accused before the Special NIA Court in Ahmedabad. The ongoing investigation aims to dismantle the terror outfit’s financial and ideological network operating within India and beyond its borders.
