NIA nabs fresh accused in Bengal over JMB offshoot’s terror plot, seizes phones, memory cards

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested one more accused from West Bengal in connection with a terror conspiracy orchestrated by an offshoot of the proscribed terrorist organisation Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), officials said on Sunday.

Several digital devices, including mobile phones and memory cards, were seized from the possession of the accused who was arrested on Saturday, a statement by the NIA said, without sharing further details.

On September 29, 13 accused persons were arrested after searches conducted at 16 locations across Assam, West Bengal and Kerala in connection with the case.

NIA investigation has revealed the involvement of the accused in a conspiracy hatched by Imam Mahmuder Kafila (IMK), an offshoot of JMB, to spread the banned outfit's extremist ideology and expand its terrorist network in West Bengal and the northeastern states of India, the probe agency said.

The conspiracy involved the radicalisation of vulnerable youth, the propagation of extremist ideology and the recruitment of individuals into the organisation, it said.

The investigation has further revealed that Imam Mahmud Habibullah, a senior member of JMB, had established IMK with the objective of promoting the banned organisation's agenda in India.

The accused allegedly conspired to expand the activities of IMK/JMB through clandestine meetings, religious indoctrination programmes, circulation of extremist literature and misuse of digital platforms, including Telegram, for radicalisation and dissemination of anti-India propaganda, the statement said.

They also sought to promote allegiance to the leadership of IMK/JMB and strengthen the organisation's network in India, the NIA said.