The NIA arrests six people in Assam’s Barpeta district as part of an investigation into alleged jihadi activities and a suspected radicalisation network, officials said on September 29. The arrests followed searches at multiple locations in the district.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out coordinated searches as part of a wider probe into an alleged cross-border terror conspiracy. Investigators are examining suspected links to Imam Mahmuder Kafila (IMK), which officials have described as an offshoot of the banned Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).
NIA arrests six during Barpeta searches
The NIA arrests six people from different parts of Barpeta district during Tuesday’s operation. Three were taken from areas under Sorbhog police station, two from Barpeta Road and one from Howly, according to officials cited in reports.
The arrested persons were identified as Faruk Abdullah, Zakir Hussain and Chandbar Ali from Sorbhog. Mustafizur Rahman was arrested from Barpeta Road, while Yakub Ali was taken into custody from Nishuka. Rakibul Islam was arrested from Jashihatipara village in Howly.
The agency also seized documents and electronic devices during the searches. Reports said the recovered material included mobile phones and a laptop. Investigators are expected to examine the material as part of the ongoing case.
NIA arrests six amid wider terror probe
The NIA arrests six as part of a larger operation that extended beyond Assam. Officials said the agency searched 16 locations across Assam, West Bengal and Kerala, with 10 locations in Assam, five in West Bengal and one in Kerala.
The investigation centres on alleged radicalisation and suspected cross-border links involving IMK. According to reports citing officials, investigators are examining whether individuals connected with the network attempted to expand its activities in northeastern states and West Bengal.
However, the allegations remain subject to investigation and legal proceedings. The arrests themselves do not establish guilt, and further evidence will be examined through the legal process.
NIA arrests six in alleged radicalisation case
The NIA arrests six against the backdrop of an earlier investigation into the alleged IMK network. The agency had previously filed a chargesheet against 11 accused persons in the case, according to an ANI report published on Tuesday.
The chargesheet reportedly invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The investigation, according to the agency’s reported findings, concerns alleged efforts to promote extremist ideology, radicalise vulnerable youths and expand the network in India.
Investigators have also examined alleged clandestine meetings, religious indoctrination programmes, extremist literature and digital platforms. These are allegations forming part of the NIA’s case and have not been independently established through a final judicial finding.
Electronic evidence under scrutiny
The electronic devices seized during Tuesday’s searches could provide investigators with additional information about communication, contacts and online activity. The agency has not publicly disclosed all details of the material recovered during the latest operation.
NIA arrests six as investigation continues
The NIA arrests six in Barpeta while the broader investigation continues across several states. The operation indicates that investigators are examining the alleged network beyond individual arrests and are tracing possible links between people, locations and digital records.
Meanwhile, the NIA’s official case records show that the agency is handling multiple terror-related investigations across India. Its current operations include cases involving alleged radicalisation, cross-border activity and suspected links to banned organisations.
For the six arrested in Barpeta, the next stages of the case will involve investigation and judicial proceedings. Authorities will assess the evidence collected during the searches and determine the legal course of action.
The Barpeta operation therefore forms part of a broader probe into alleged extremist activity and suspected cross-border networks. Further details are expected as investigators examine the seized material and proceed with the case
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