Iboyaima Laithangbam
Imphal, Nov. 3: In the wake of reports that some Muslim activists in North-east India are linked to some Islamic militant groups, security measures in most of the region was beefed up. Notwithstanding denials, most of the Muslim activists are under the scanner.
Manipur Home Minister Gaikhangam Gangmei ordered an inquiry into the reports that some Muslim youths from the State had been taken away for indoctrination and training in terrorism.
Though some Muslim activists in Assam vehemently denied it, some top cops said that Muslim youths from Assam are engaged in these activties. Over the decades, Bangladeshi nationals have sneaked into North-east India. Some of them are feared to be fundamentalists. Apart from blending themselves in Muslim-dominated areas they are settling in ghettos mostly along the Assam Nagaland border. Whenever there is an anti-foreigners’ movement in Manipur, the police raid specific places to arrest foreigners. Some of them have been sent to prison, while trials are going on in the law court in case of others.
Sleuths of the National Investigation Agency have been visiting certain areas in Assam, Shillong and Garo Hills in Meghalaya since they suspect that some Islamic militants are hiding in the North-east after terrorist activities were reported in Bardhaman district of West Bengal.
The NIA, local police and BSF personnel have been conducting raids in areas whenever they get tip offs.
Khagen Sarma, the Director General of Police, Assam told reporters on October 21 that several Muslim youths of Assam had undergone training in terrorism in Bangladesh. There is support from the local populace, and the foreign funding has aggravated the situation.
