Gulshan attack suspect Idris held in Kolkata

A suspected leader of banned militant outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), who was wanted in connection with the Gulshan terror attack, has been arrested. Kolkata police arrested Mohammad Idris from a hideout in the Burrabazar area earlier this week, reports The Telegraph. There was specific information that Idris had been shuttling between Hyderabad and Kolkata and was trying to recruit and radicalise youths for the cause of Rohingyas, a source said. The report said that the counter-terrorism unit in Bangladeshi had been informed about the detention, and if need be, they would be allowed to interrogate Idris. However, when contacted, Police Headquarters DIG (media and planning) AKM Shohidul Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have not received any information from India’s end. We are contacting them.” According to the report, intelligence sources said that the JMB is trying to regroup after the government cracked down on extremists following the attack on Holey Artisan Bakery on July 1 last year that killed at least 20 people, including 17 foreigners. Two policemen were also killed in the attack. Delhi police said that Idris had actively been involved in the Gulshan attack and fled Bangladesh immediately after the attack. "He had sneaked into India and found shelter at a place in Colootola near Burrabazar at least three months ago. He was moving between Kolkata and Hyderabad, and taking instructions from the JMB top leader Salehin to work for the cause of the Rohingyas," an intelligence source said. According to Indian central agencies, Salehin alias Salahuddin heads both the Indian and Bangladeshi chapters of the old JMB, and is said to be hiding in India. A fortnight ago, a team of Delhi police team went to Kolkata and conducted a joint operation with the officers of the central Intelligence Bureau to detain Idris. The operation, about which Kolkata police was not informed, had failed. Later, Kolkata police arrested Idris from Colootola after the central agencies shared information with them and handed him over to the special cell of the Delhi police earlier this week.