Are terrorists using chicken-neck corridor?

 SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

 SILCHAR, July 16: The arrests of jihadis belonging to Jamal-ul-Mujahideen (JMB) and Harkut-ul-Mujahideen (HMB) of Bangladesh from lower Assam districts of Dhubri, Chirang, Barpeta and lbari in recent past bring out yet another and hitherto less known fact about these Bangladesh based terrorists if they are using the chicken-neck corridor (Siliguri). Such assumption is not ïve, viewed in the context of the recent reports in West Bengal media that Malda has become a safe refuge and place for mujahids to get arms training and infiltrate into Assam to carry out subversive activities.

 After the ghastly Gulshan mayhem in Dhaka, it has been conclusively established that JMB, a home grown terrorist outfit, has been involved in it. 7 terrorists behind the bloodshed were indoctrited and equipped with sophisticated arms training to carry out the design of ISIS for a Caliphate or Islamic state. Information Minister of Bangladesh, Hasanul Haque, was on record to say that around 5,000 madrasa educated boys went to Afghanistan at the behest of ISI of Pakistan to get arms training in the camp of Al-queda. It is among these trained mujahideens who under the umbrella of JMB have become a threat not only to Bangladesh but also to West Bengal and Assam.

 The intelligence agencies monitoring the movement of these mujahids point out that they have formed bases at Malda and two other locations of Kaliachak and Baishvgar. Malda has been identified as the safest and easiest entry point for jihadis. Fake Indian currency notes are being pumped in through the porous border. Just on the opposite side of Malda is Rajshahi division of Bangladesh where the camps of JMB are spread over. It is most likely that the jihadis are taking to chicken-neck corridor to infiltrate into Assam due to strict vigilance and surveillance mounted by BSF all along the border of Bangladesh with lower Assam districts.

 The arrest of a number of Jamaat-ul- Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) activists has conclusively indicated about the making of jihadi modules in the sensitive districts of the state. These modules under the guise of some or the other outfit grow surreptitiously and ultimately play second fiddle to extraneous forces. It is to be recalled not long ago, as a part of its drive, state police bbed 6 jihadis with arms and ammunitions from three districts of Chirang, Baksa and Kokrajhar under Bodo Territorial Autonomous District (BTAD).

 They were identified and their interrogation revealed they have been planning to extend network in other districts under the command of their leader Burabhai and subsequently in vulnerable areas. He has been working in close coordition with Sahanur Alam, the key accused in Burdwan blast on October 2 last year. Burabhai had invited Sakil Ahmed, Jamaat ul Mujahideen leader of Bangladesh, to Bapeta district in order to float an extremist outfit. He began to train youths to set up arms training camps in Goalpara and Barpeta districts.

 Police investigations have revealed that Burabhai planned to form a unit of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen to take vengeance for the atrocities on minorities during the riots of 2012 in the BTAD. Investigation by top cops and revelation by Burabhai expose how Sakil was on a surveillance visits of the villages and char lands domited by the minorities mainly with the purpose of indoctrition of youths and inspire then  to join jihad. Burabhai was luring the youths to religious extremism by brainwashing them from different parts of Assam. There could be no better place for training centre than in Goalpara close to chicken-neck corridor.  There might be many more Burabhais waiting in the wing, who knows. This came true. In the later part of April, Burabhai’s associate Joyl, the imam of Rajapara masjid, along with 6 others were bbed by police from two different locations of Chirang district. They all are members of JMB who were identified as Rezaak Ali, Soleman Ali, Dildar Ali, Md Nurul Islam, Rafiqul Islam and Ukhiluddin. BTAD IGP L R Bisnoi admitted about the presence of around 30 jihadi cadres in the area. According to him, the infiltration of JMB cadres from West Bengal has become a cause of alarm. It was not the end. 4 more jihadis identified as Sahidul, Mujibur Rahman, Kasim Uddin and Akram Ali were arrested by the joint team of army and police from Bomaria area of Barpeta on July 11.

 They belong not to JMB but HMB. Sahidul was one of the masterminds behind Burdwan blast. Following day, yet another jihadi identified as Azhar Ali was arrested by police from Tarabari of Barpeta. It is now more than clear that the jihadis with Bangla connection are desperate to set up camps in lower Assam districts and act as proxy to ISIS. It is all the more essential that the chicken-neck corridor that leads to the lower Assam districts should be brought under close watch by security and intelligence agencies.