Assam police detains three suspected Hizb-ul-Mujahideen operatives, sets free after interrogation

The Assam police on Sunday released three individuals it had earlier detained from Barpeta district for having alleged links with terrorist outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. They have been released after interrogation by the police. The police said that the interrogation revealed that three people have been contacted by Shahnawaz Alam, who had been arrested by the Assam police for having alleged links to Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Qamar-uz-Zaman.

Shahnawaz Alam reportedly had old currency notes which he wanted to exchange. The police suspect that demonetised currency was meant for Hizbul funding.

With the detention of three people, earlier in the day, the Assam police so far apprehended 7 people in Assam in last ten days.

The Assam police have been carrying the crackdowns after it nabbed Hizb-ul Mujahideen terrorist Qamar-uz-Zaman in Kanpur last week. Following his arrest, joint operations were launched by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), along with the Assam Police, and Crime Branch in the state of Assam as part of operations to neutralise individuals having links with foreign-based extremist organisations

READ | Hizbul Mujahideen Crackdown In Assam: How Things Unfolded

Earlier on September 16, the Assam police arrested three people with alleged links to Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Qamar-uz-Zaman . The three, identified as Shahnawaz Alam, Saidul Alam and Omar Faruk, were arrested from Hojai, Udali and Byrnihat, along the Assam-Meghalaya border.

"The three persons had regular interaction with Zama and we are investigating the information provided by them (to him)," Director General of Police Kuladhar Saikia said.

"We are also investigating Zama's visit to Assam earlier this year (including) the places he visited, the persons with whom he stayed and the purpose of his visit, among other aspects," he added.

Shahnawaz bought a SIM card for Zaman by giving a fake identity card, while Saidul is a close friend of the terrorist and stayed with him in Jammu and Kashmir. Zama allegedly stayed with Omar in Guwahati during his last visit.

A resident of Assam, Zaman was arrested by Uttar Pradesh ATS following inputs from the National Investigation Agency that he planned to attack a temple in Kanpur during the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations and had conducted a recce.

A team of Uttar Pradesh ATS will be reaching Hojai to interrogate the three accused.

(With Inputs From PTI)