Concerns have developed in both India and Bangladesh over the reported regrouping of banned Islamist outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) mainly after two suspected militants of the group were killed on October 2 in a blast at a house in West Bengal’s Bardhaman district.
The 32-year-old prime suspect, Shamim Ahmed alias Shakil alias Nayem alias Afzal Gazi, was a Bangladeshi. The other deceased is Shovon Mondol alias Shawpan alias Subhan, 22.
According to primary reports in Indian media, they were killed while making bombs.
More chilling information came in the media lately which claims that the bombs were being made in the Indian territory to carry out subversive activities in Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh authorities are yet to be informed “officially” by the Indian side about the latest development of the JMB operatives in West Bengal.
But the investigators here are closely monitoring the developments.
JMB founder Shayakh Abdur Rahman in a statement in 2006 mentioned about the West Bengal chapter terming it to be their 65th unit.
The Detective Branch (DB) of Police suspect that two convicted JMB men snatched from a prison van earlier this year were now staying in West Bengal.
Quoting Indian intelligence, media says hailing from Dhaka, Shakil was a cadre of the JMB. He also had links with Jamaat-e-Islami, al-Qaeda, al-Jihad, Student Islamic Movement in India and Indian Mujahideen.
Shakil crossed the border to enter India illegally in 2009 and took shelter in Metiaburuje of Kolkata first. He started campaigning about so-called Jihad there under the guise of cloth trading as he had managed an Indian voter ID card.
Deceased Shovon hailed from Uttarpara Village of Purba Medinipur district.
Another injured in the October 2 incident was Abdul Hakim, from Mohammadbazar of Birbhum. He is undergoing treatment at Bardhaman Medical College Hospital in critical condition.
From the spot, the Indian police recovered around 25 grenades, 10 hand bombs, and bomb making chemicals – Ammonium Nitrate, Iron Oxide and Hydrogen peroxide in huge quantity.
The police also arrested Shakil’s wife Gulsana Bibi alias Rumi Bibi and Hakim’s wife Alima Bibi soon after the incident. Owner of the house Hassan Chowdhury was also detained.
Shakil, Shovon and Hakim reportedly rented the house three months back and the two women used to stay with them, according to reports published in Indian media.
Interrogating the women, the Indian National Intelligence Agency claimed that the deceased and the arrestees had been making bombs at the house to carry out destructive activities in Bangladesh.
Indian newspaper Hindustan Times published reports saying that the suspected JMB men had sent to Bangladesh four consignments of bombs in the last three months through courier service. The carriers were Kawser and Rasiq, the detainees said during interrogation.
The media also reported that India issued high alert across West Bengal and sealed off its borders with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan following the explosion in which a terrorist hand was suspected.
However, Brig Gen Aziz Ahmed, the chief of Border Guard Bangladesh, told the Dhaka Tribune that they were unaware about the sealing off the border. “We also did not take any special security measures about it. We usually take measures after each and every such incident takes place.”
Similar statement came from the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry too. In a press statement, the ministry said India issued no instruction to seal off its borders with Bangladesh in the wake of the October 2 grenade explosions.
The Indian authorities concerned have clarified it in response to a verification made by the Bangladesh government following the recent media reports.
The Bangladesh authorities also have not received any formal order on issuing high alert.
Kamaluddin Ahmed, additional secretary (political) of the Home Ministry, told the Dhaka Tribune that they had not received any kind of formal order regarding the Bardhaman blasts. “We have learned that one of the deceased is Bangladeshi. But it is not proved yet,” he said.
Asked about any special measure, Kamal said the regular activities against militants had been under way.
The BD claimed that they had information about militant activities in West Bengal and were keeping an eye on the developments.
Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of DB police, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday: “We have not received any official order about the incident. But since an incident developed in the neighbouring country, we are looking into it.”
When contacted, Sanowar Hossain, additional deputy commissioner of DB police and chief of the anti-militancy team, told the Dhaka Tribune that they had been following the Bardhaman incident sincerely.
“When we notice any kind of information about anti-state activities, we take the issue seriously and start investigation. This is not a separate case for us.”
The DB has information that two top JMB leaders who had been snatched from a prison van in Trishal of Mymensingh in February were now staying in West Bengal, he said.
The JMB has a strong hold in the West Bengal where the two fugitive militants – Salauddin alias Salehin alias Sajeeb and Zahidul Islam alias “Boma” Mizan – remain holed up.
Another top DB official, requesting anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune that the West Bengal chapter of the JMB had developed its base mainly in Murshidabad, Malda and Nadia districts during the stint of the BNP-Jamaat-led government.
“JMB leader Sohel Mahfuz is leading the outfit in those districts. We first came to learn about it in 2010 after the arrest of JMB leader Saidur Rahman,” the official said.
The issue was verified after the arrest of seven JMB members from Ashulia Landing Station last month, who are reportedly planning to launch attacks on the VVIP motorcades.
During interrogation, acting JMB chief Abdullah Al Tasnim alias Nahid, 29, and six other members mention that they often got instructions from Salehin and Boma Mizan – now staying in West Bengal, said a DB high official.