53 ‘jihadis’ arrested in Assam this year, says CM Hamanta Biswa.

GUWAHATI: Assam police arrested a total of 53 ‘jihadis’ this year, including a Bangladeshi national, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday.

Responding to a question by BJP MLA Terash Gowala on the last day of the winter session of the Assam Assembly, Sarma said that since March this year, a total of nine cases have been registered in seven districts of the state – Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Morigaon, Dhubri. are Golpara, Tamolpur and Nalbari districts.

Sarma said that the case registered in Barpeta against the jihadi module has been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

A Bangladeshi national, Saiful Islam alias Haroon Rasheed, was arrested in Barpeta under relevant provisions of the IPC, UA(P) Act, Passport Act and Foreigners Act.

He added that the man was engaged as Imam of Dhalia Para Masjid in Barpeta district.

Meanwhile, five other Bangladeshi nationals are still at large accused of being involved in ‘jihadi’ activities in Assam, Sarma said.