Banned terror outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) plans to join hands with dreaded terror organization Lashkar-e-Tayebba (LeT) and set up bases along the Indian border, according to reports. Recently, the government of India had banned JMB under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 35 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 with immediate effect.
According to senior officials in the home ministry, JMB intends to create permanent bases within 10-km of Indo-Bangladesh border. The terror organization aims to establish bases across districts of West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura. This was revealed during the interrogation of Jahidul Islam, who along with his 12-member action team was arrested in connection with the 2018 Bodhgaya blast.
According to Bangladesh based Islam, JMB intended to target Gaya and other iconic Buddhist centres in India, as a part of their revenge for the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar and also to express solidarity with Rohingya Muslims. According to reports, JMB terrorists are using madarasas in Burdwan and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal for the training of their terrorist members. The training modules include classes on the fabrication of improvised explosive devices (IED), religious indoctrination, and physical exercises including target practice.
The Narendra Modi-led government had designated JMB as a terrorist group based on intelligence inputs suggesting its leaders in Dhaka had joined hands with the Pakistan-based LeT to widen their terror activities in India.
Through its official media Al-Ehsar, JMB chief Salaudin Salehin had earlier announced JMH as India chapter for expanding their jihadi activities in India.
The terror group that upholds the hardline ideology of the Islamic State (ISIS) has been widening its network in South India and has been working with the aim of establishing a Caliphate in the Indian sub-continent.