NIA summons man from Sonamura in Al-Qaeda case, conducts raids

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has issued a summons to a resident of Sonamura Sub-division in Tripura’s Sepahijala District, requiring him to appear in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, by November 21, in connection with an ongoing investigation.

The Tripura Police confirmed the notice and stated that NIA officials recently conducted raids in several parts of Tripura as part of an investigation into activities allegedly linked to Bangladeshi nationals involved in an Al-Qaeda conspiracy.

“Yesterday, an NIA team searched the residence of Kauchar Ahmed in Tetaiya Mura, Sonamura Sub-division, Sepahijala District. Since he was not at home, the team proceeded to Jatrapur Police Station. Ahmed later arrived with family members, was questioned, and received a notice to appear in Ahmedabad at 11 a.m. on November 21,” said the police.

According to an NIA statement, extensive searches were conducted across multiple locations nationwide on Monday as part of efforts to curb activities linked to Al-Qaeda. The operation, which targeted individuals suspected of supporting or funding the proscribed terrorist organization, spanned nine locations in Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, West Bengal, Bihar, Tripura, and Assam.

“The searches led to the seizure of incriminating documents detailing banking transactions, digital devices like mobile phones, and other evidence related to terror funding,” the NIA said. “As per our investigations, the suspects whose premises were raided are believed to have ties with a Bangladesh-based Al-Qaeda network. This investigation is part of a broader 2023 case involving a conspiracy by Bangladesh-based Al-Qaeda operatives in collaboration with associates within India, aimed at promoting Al-Qaeda’s terrorist agenda and radicalizing vulnerable youths.”

In a related development last November, the NIA filed a chargesheet against five individuals, including four Bangladeshi nationals identified as Mohd. Sojibmiyan, Munna Khalid Ansari alias Munna Khan, Azarul Islam alias Jahangir or Aakash Khan, and Abdul Latif alias Mominul Ansari. The fifth accused, Farid, is an Indian national.

NIA investigations revealed that the accused used forged documents to operate covertly in India. “They were actively engaged in radicalizing susceptible Muslim youth in India, disseminating Al-Qaeda’s extremist ideology, collecting funds, and transferring these funds to Al-Qaeda,” the statement added.