NIA to probe JuM ultras’ case

Bhopal, Apr 7 : The NIA will inquire into the case pertaining to four arrested extremists owing allegiance to the Bangladesh-based proscribed terrorist organisation Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister and government spokesman Narottam Mishra said on Thursday. “A comm cation of this nature has been received from the federal investigating agency,” he told the press. The militants – who were creating a remote base sleeper cell here when apprehended by the Anti-Terrorism Squad on March 13 during a night raid executed in the densely-populated Aishbagh locality – received funding from Kolkata and were planning petrol bomb attacks. State police ceaselessly probed the matter and a team left for the West Bengal capital. Every link was traced. Videos found revealed making of petrol bombs. Two more locals – who helped and funded the accused – were identified and interrogated. On March 14, a local court remanded the foursome in 14 days’ police custody. They were presented before Additional Sessions Judge R Yadav. The ATS sought remand for conducting further interrogation vis-a-vis documents seized. Jihadi literature and electronic equipment were also appropriated from Fazar Ali, Mohammad Aqeel, Jahooruddin alias Ibrahim and Fazar Junail. A special investigation team began an inquiry and all police stations were placed on alert. In 2005, the JuM triggered approximately 500 bombs at about 300 locations in 50 cities or towns of Bangladesh. The group was responsible for the death of two persons in 2014 in an explosion at West Bengal’s Bardhaman. Four years later, another blast took place in Bodh Gaya. In the wake of these attacks, the Centre banned the JuM in 2019 for a period of half a decade. Team-AC