Alert after intrusion input

7 jihadis heading to Assam, warns Meghalaya police

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, July 7: An intelligence input suggesting infiltration of five suspected terrorists from Bangladesh into India has set off tremors in the security apparatus in Assam and Meghalaya.

The input was received by Meghalaya Police yesterday and it was immediately shared with Assam Police.

 According to the input, seven Muslim persons entered Garo Hills through Kai near Mahadeo carrying large bags.

"Two of them went back, but five others disappeared. One of them is bearded and can speak English. They were reportedly carrying maps and asked the jungle route to Guwahati. All of them are well-built and healthy. The one with the beard is of fair complexion," the input said.

The input was from Meghalaya Police which based it on accounts of villagers in the border areas of South Garo Hills district of Meghalaya.

"Given the situation, we cannot afford to take the input lightly. We have alerted the police in Garo Hills districts and have asked the range DIG to step up domition of all the possible routes. As the destition was purportedly Guwahati, we have also alerted Assam Police," Meghalaya DGP SK Jain told The Sentinel over phone from Shillong.

Jain, however, said there has been no "development in Garo hills after the receipt of the inputs."

In Assam, ADG (special branch) Pallab Bhattacharyya confirmed receiving the input and said all lower Assam districts, particularly Guwahati have been put on alert.

"Keeping in view the developments in Bangladesh, though the input is not very specific, we are taking it seriously. Particularly Dhubri, Bongaigaon, Goalpara, Kamrup and Guwahati city has been put on alert," the ADGP said.

Guwahati police commissioner Mukesh Agarwalla today reviewed the security apparatus at Guwahati airport.

Dhaka has blamed the "home-grown" Jammat-ul Mujahiddin Bangladesh (JMB) for the recent terror attack at a café in the capital city.

The Islamic terror module has been active in Assam, where several alleged jihadi operatives working for the JMB have been arrested in the past two years.