Kolkata: A 26-year-old suspected terrorist associated with Al-Qaeda was arrested from the Petrapole Indo-Bangla border area near Bongaon on Sunday night. Cops seized a few mobile phones, some videos, maps of various countries, and some jihadi materials from the accused, Tariqul Islam.
Police confirmed there is a strong possibility he might be connected with a network of Al-Qaeda or other terrorist outfits.
According to sources, Islam was arrested due to passport irregularities. He was handed over to the police and revealed information that suggested he had links with Al-Qaeda.
He has been remanded in police custody for 14 days after being produced in a Bongaon court on Monday.
Police said Islam is from the Khulna district in Bangladesh, and he had travelled to India several times since 2021. “When he was arrested, Islam was found to be in possession of jihadi pamphlets and a map of India commonly used by militants for war. In addition, suspicious documents related to anti-India activities were also found on him,” an officer said.
Public prosecutor in Bongaon subdivisional court Asim Kumar Dey said, “Islam has been charged under sections 121, 121A, 123, and 120B due to the suspicious nature of his movements and items found with him.”