Possible terror act averted, 2 suspects held: Assam Police

Special director-general of police Harmeet Singh said Assam Police’s Special Task Force (STF) made the arrests and recoveries during a search operation

Published on: Dec 25, 2024, 13:59:31 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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The Assam Police on Wednesday said they averted a possible terrorist act by arresting two terror suspects and recovering a large cache of arms and ammunition at Namapara in Korajhar late on Tuesday night as part of a crackdown under Operation Praghat against fundamentalists.

Police said the recoveries included four handmade rifles. (Sourced)

Special director-general of police Harmeet Singh said Assam Police’s Special Task Force (STF) made the arrests and recoveries during a search operation. “This has averted a possible major terror act by fundamentalist jihadi elements,” he said.

Singh said Kokrajhar residents Abdul Zaher Sheikh and Sabbir Mirdha were arrested based on interrogation of the eight alleged members of Bangladesh-based terror outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team arrested last week from Assam, West Bengal, and Kerala. The eight included a Bangladeshi national.

“Subsequent interrogation [of Sheikh and Mirdha] and search operations led to the recovery of a huge cache of arms and ammunition and other war-like items from the hideout of one of the arrested accused persons,” said Singh.

Police said they recovered four handmade rifles, 34 rounds of live ammunition, 24 rounds of blank cartridges, one pair of improvised explosive devices, one handmade grenade, circuit detonators made from agricultural equipment, electronic switches, iron cases, iron pieces, and plates, switches and wires with explosives used in firecrackers. Other incriminating items were also found, they added.

Singh said it was clear that the alleged terror module was looking to create mass destruction. “They were running sleeper cells across our eastern and northwestern borders,” said Singh. He added the fundamentalists have become more active after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s government in Bangladesh in August.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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