Not just clerics and teachers, jihadis adopting many guises

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The spotlight is very much on imams and teachers of a section of madrassas working as jihadis in Assam. However, that is only the tip of the iceberg because many jihadi elements are also active in various other guises such as contractors, drivers, daily-wage earners etc.

This fact was underlined by the arrest on Wednesday of a Goalpara-based contractor who was involved in recruitment of cadres for jihadi groups. A senior police officer said that they have information that members of jihadi sleeper cells are adopting the cover of various professions such as e-rickshaw operators, petty traders, labourers etc. The officer said that consequently the police is keeping an eagle eye on persons hailing from sensitive areas, regardless of whether they have any obvious connection with any madrassa or not.

It is pertinent to mention that in view of the fact that jihadi activities are particularly high in the Goalpara, Bongaigaon and Barpeta districts, Assam's Director General of Police (DGP) Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta held a meeting on Thursday with the SPs and other senior police officials of these three districts.

According to the DGP, the majority of arrested jihadis have confessed that they received training from groups like Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT). The DGP said that the jihadis have established a base in certain areas of Lower Assam and are looking to create 'jihadi fighters' for the future in these pockets.

According to the DGP, the jihadis are now using "cut-off tactics", which means that one group of jihadis working in Assam is not aware about the existence of other similar groups in the state. As a result, if one activist or group is busted, then the trail ends with them.

The DGP added that the Assam Police has prepared its strategy to weed out the jihadis by keeping these factors in mind.

Also Read: Will not let jihadis set up bases in the state: Assam DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta

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