Guwahati : The arrest of 11 suspected jihadi operatives in Assam has exposed an organised cross-border radicalisation network with links to Bangladesh and West Bengal, Assam Police said, revealing how social media platforms were used to indoctrinate local youth into extremist ideology.

Investigations have found that the arrested individuals were associated with Imam Mahamuder Kafila (IMK), a radical outfit believed to be an offshoot of the banned Bangladesh-based Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). The group allegedly aimed to foment jihad and carry out terror activities in Assam and Tripura, with some recruits even travelling to Bangladesh for training.

According to police sources, the radicalisation process began in late 2024 when Nasim Uddin alias Tamim, a resident of Nichuka in Barpeta Road, came across a YouTube channel preaching about the concept of “Muzaddid”-a messianic religious figure believed, in certain Islamic traditions, to appear every 100 years to protect the faith. The channel claimed that the Muzaddid had already arrived in the form of “Imam Mahmud”.

When questioned by investigators, Tamim said the channel was operated by a Bangladeshi national named Khalid. The YouTube channel directed viewers to a specific user ID, which led Tamim to a Telegram account under the same name. The Telegram account contained religious texts and messages in PDF format, purportedly justifying extremist interpretations of Islamic teachings.

Police said Khalid acted on instructions from Bangladesh-based handlers Umar, Sujan Bin Sultan and Shamim Barah, along with Mir Rahman of West Bengal and Jagir Miah of Agartala. The group allegedly propagated selective Hadith references to claim that the arrival of Imam Mahmud signalled the time for violent jihad.

Khalid later created a Telegram group named “Purva Akash”, initially serving as its administrator before handing over control to Tamim. Several individuals were added to the group, where messages promoting “Ghazwatul Hind”-an extremist concept calling for war against India-were circulated under the guidance of handlers based in Bangladesh, West Bengal and Tripura.

Investigators said Khalid and other handlers cited religious books to claim that the time had come to wage war against “Hindustan”. However, police found that the texts referenced were fabricated or distorted to suit the group’s radical narrative.

“IMK was systematically using social media platforms like YouTube and Telegram to radicalise vulnerable youth, spread false religious propaganda and promote the idea of establishing Muslim rule in India through violence,” a senior police official said.

The probe has also revealed that IMK is part of a wider transnational extremist network seeking to exploit digital platforms to bypass traditional surveillance mechanisms. Further investigations are underway to identify additional recruits, financial channels and operational links across borders.

Assam Police said the arrests have helped avert a potential security threat, but warned that online radicalisation remains a serious challenge requiring constant monitoring and coordinated action with central agencies.

Promotional | North East Integration Rally