JMB hatched conspiracy to topple Hasina govt in Bangladesh: NIA

Investigations by NIA into the last year's Burdwan blasts has revealed that Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) was trying to topple Sheikh Hasina government by establishing Sharia law and spread its tentacles in India.

National Investigation Agency on Monday filed a second supplementary charge sheet in connection with the blast that took place on October 2, 2014 against accused Nurul Hoque Mondal alias Naeem and 27 others at a city court for waging war against Bangladesh, an Asiatic power which is in alliance and peace with India. "They (JMB) hatched a conspiracy wherein the main purpose was to establish Sharia Law in Bangladesh by toppling (the) democratically elected government and to spread tentacles in India for the furtherance of their goal," a NIA release issued here today said.

"Their (JMB's) intention and conduct was evident from the preparation they made in the form of full-fledged bomb making factory at Khagragarh, Burdwan to radicalise vulnerable sections, recruit new members and train them at selected madrasas viz Simulia and Mukimnagar and certain other places/hideouts. "They also intended to collect funds for the banned outfit for its members on the pretext of helping poor Muslim students-- a fact which was established during further investigation," it said.

Probe into the matter established that all the 27 accused were associated with each other, the NIA said in its release. On grilling Naeem, NIA had learnt that the outfit was trying to build networks in Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts too.

Naeem had gone to Bangladesh and stayed at Jatrabadi in Dhaka and also to Mirpur for nearly one and half months and was trained in bomb-making by one Bashir alias Talha and Anish alias Kausar, the release said.
Bashir is the son of senior JMB leader Saidur Rahman in Bangladesh, it said. Naeem, a resident of Bakshipur in Murshidabad, was arrested in June from Howrah railway station. 

"Materials recovered from Naeem revealed that he was following the incidents of atrocities against Muslims all over the world and videos of Osama Bin Laden, Mulla Omar, Bangla Bhai and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). "It also revealed the way he was trained in handling weapons, fidayeen attacks and IED blasts," the NIA release said.

During the probe, it was also established that a Bangladeshi national Sadik alias Sumon was one of the trainers of JMB and used to teach violent Jihad by delivering motivational speeches.

"He was actively involved in motivating the vulnerable youths from Sahebganj area as well as from Murshidabad for undergoing terrorist training camps organised by JMB in which handling of arms, explosives besides manufacturing bombs and physical training were imparted to them," as per the release.