‘Free Kashmir’ posters in Delhi, Kolkata: 6 Bangladeshi nationals among 8 with ‘terror links’ arrested

Police said six of the arrested accused — identified as Md Mizanur Rehman (32), Md Sefayat Hossain (34), Md Zahidul Islam (40), Md Liton (40), Md Uzzal (27), and Umar (32) — were working at three garment factories in Tamil Nadu. They were arrested on Saturday during a joint operation by the Delhi Police Special Cell and the Tamil Nadu Police, officers said.

The Delhi Police got on their trail after posters reading ‘Free Kashmir’ were put up at various locations in the Capital, including Janpath metro station, during the recently concluded AI Impact Summit, officers said. “The metro police tracked down the two accused who affixed the posters. The trail showed that both of them absconded to Kolkata,” Additional CP (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwaha said. Police said multiple raids were conducted in Kolkata during which Umar Farook and Robiul Islam, a Bangladeshi national, were arrested.

The case was transferred to the Special Cell on February 13. “Robiul had previously been arrested in 2007 in India. He and Umar had put up those posters. They were receiving orders from one Shabir Ahmad Lone from Bangladesh,” a police officer said.

Umar and Robiul were allegedly provided a “dry run” by Lone after being asked to put up posters in Delhi, and later in Kolkata, police said. “Similar posters were affixed by the accused at metro stations in Kolkata on February 10,” an officer said.

“On February 6, Umar and Robiul took a flight to Delhi from Kolkata. They affixed the posters on February 7 night at 10 different locations in Delhi and took a train to Kolkata the next day. They also made videos and sent those to Lone who congratulated them and directed them to affix posters in Kolkata too,” Kushwaha said.

Umar and Robiul were allegedly also tasked with recruiting people of Bangladeshi origin for terror-related operations, and they hence got in touch with the six with garment factory workers in Tamil Nadu, police said. They added that Umar went to Bangladesh to meet Lone who helped him get in touch with the factory workers.

“Raids were conducted at three factories in Tamil Nadu. Two were arrested from Uthukuli, one from Thirumuruganpoondi, and three from Palladam. Most of them had illegally crossed the border and arrived in West Bengal from Bangladesh years ago, before moving to Tamil Nadu. Their Aadhaar cards have been found to be forged,” a police officer said.

Lone was arrested in 2007 for allegedly plotting to execute a high-profile political leader. Sophisticated machine guns like AK- 47 were found in his possession. Police said that at the time of his arrest, he had direct links with Jamat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed and his deputy Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi. “He was trained in Daura-e-Aam (basic terror camps) and Daura-e-Khas (specialised terror camps ) in Pakistan and hails from Kashmir. He was arrested In 2007 and released in 2018 from Tihar, after which he fled to Bangladesh. He then developed links with the LeT and started recruiting people for terror activities,” an officer said.

“Lone had an accomplice named Saidul Islam, also a Bangladeshi national, who is currently in a foreign country. Saidul facilitated the illegal entry of Lone in Bangladesh and arranged a hideout for him. Saidul provided Lone the details about the men in Tamil Nadu,” Khushwaha added.