Banned Bangladeshi terror outfit JMB may attack Durga Puja pandals in West Bengal, warn intelligence agencies

Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh is a banned terrorist outfit in Bangladesh.

KOLKATA: Amidst the ongoing Durga Puja festivities in West Bengal, intelligence inputs received by central security agencies and the state government have suggested that Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) - a banned terrorist outfit of Bangladesh - may carry out attacks in North Bengal. 

The intelligence report, which is in possession of Zee Media, says that subversive activities may be carried out at four places of North Bengal - Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar, Alipurduar and Siliguri. 

“Four JMB operatives have planned for destructive activity during Durga Puja. Their target is to carry out sabotage attacks at Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Siliguri,” the report says. 

While two operatives have already entered the Indian territory and settled in West Bengal’s Dinhata area located in Coochbehar district, two other operatives are preparing to enter in the next two days. 

It further says, “Out of four JMB cadres, two have already arrived in India and taken shelter in Dinhata’s red light area and the remaining two will come within two days. Their target is to inflict maximum injury during Durga Puja.” 

The report also suggests that the JMB operatives may have procured explosives from Nepal. 

Back in 2014, on October 2, an accidental blast during Durga Puja celebrations in West Bengal’s Burdwan district blew the lid off the JMB sleeper cells active in the state. 

The NIA, which is investigating the case, mentioned JMB’s involvement in its chargesheet and explained how the banned terror outfit has managed to create its sleeper cells in several places across the state.