Based on credible intelligence inputs, the Special Task Force (STF) of Assam Police executed coordinated raids on December 29 and 30 across multiple districts in Assam—Barpeta, Chirang, Baksa, and Darrang—as well as in Tripura. This operation resulted in the arrest of 11 operatives associated with the Imam Mahmuder Kafila (IMK), a radical Islamic group linked to Bangladesh. The arrested individuals, aged between 22 and 46, have been identified by the police, with several stemming from Barpeta, highlighting the regional footprint of this extremist group.
The STF’s proactive measures are attributed to heightened concerns regarding Jihadi activities in the Northeast, particularly following ongoing tensions in Bangladesh. Intelligence assessments from central agencies indicated a resurgence of IMK activities, prompting the STF’s investigations. The IMK is recognized as an offshoot of the banned Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), with its origins tracing back to 2018, spearheaded by Jewel Mahmud—an ex-JMB member.
In light of shifts in the political landscape in Bangladesh since August 2024, directives have flowed from higher echelons of Bangladesh-based terrorist organizations—JMB, Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), and Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS)—urging the IMK to activate its operations within Indian territory. Nasim Uddin, alias Tamim, has emerged as the head of the Assam cell, with Bangladeshi nationals Umar and Khalid facilitating these operations.
The IMK utilizes secure social media platforms, specifically a group named ‘Purva Akash’, for communication and recruitment purposes. This network has been instrumental in radicalizing and recruiting individuals from Assam, West Bengal, and Tripura, which extends to persons with Indian passports who had previously visited Bangladesh, as well as known former members of other banned terrorist organizations. The STF’s efforts exemplify a strong commitment to countering growing radicalization and ensuring regional security amidst these evolving threats.
