Guwahati: Eleven people were arrested in Assam and Tripura for their alleged links with Bangladesh-based fundamentalist groups, police said on Tuesday.
Addressing a press conference, Guwahati Police Commissioner Parthasarathi Mahanta said the arrests were carried out by the Special Task Force (STF) based on intelligence inputs provided by central agencies.
According to Mahanta, coordinated operations were conducted late Monday night in Assam’s Barpeta, Chirang and Darrang districts, as well as in Tripura. “We have arrested a total of 11 jihadi elements who were working under the direct instructions of Bangladesh-based groups,” he said.
He added that the arrested individuals were members of a newly formed outfit identified as Indian Mujahideen-K. Of the total arrests, 10 were made in Assam and one in Tripura.
Mahanta claimed that the group’s objective was to destabilise Assam and other parts of the Northeast. “Their aim was to disturb peace in the region and establish what they described as ‘Muslim supremacy’,” he said.
Police said further investigation is underway to ascertain the group’s network, funding sources and possible links to other extremist organisations.
