Officers interrogating three extremists strongly suspected of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) links have learnt, for instance, that terrorists now use smaller railways stations than major junction stations, while planning their movements by trains. This helps them avoid the regular security checks enforced in the bigger stations, not to mention the presence of CCTV.

The other interesting fact is that they often meet in broad daylight in large crowded halls to escape police scrutiny — the reception centres of major public and private hospitals for instance, taking good care to be as far away from hidden cameras as possible. The advantages of such places are obvious, as no one is under any particular scrutiny in such locations, while surrounding noises effectively drown out any conversation conducted in low pitched tones.

The arrested trio, led by Mohammad Masiuddin alias Abu Al Musa Al Bangali(his ISIS sobriquet) had met his partners in terrorism at least six times in different hospitals in greater Kolkata. They are Saddam Hussain alias Sheikh Kalu and Sheikh Abbasudddin, with one absconding.

Musa had been arrested some days ago in Burdwan. He came under police scanner following the arrest in Hyderabad of ISIS recruiter Ms Nikki Joseph alias Afsa Jabeen. His associates were picked up after a preliminary investigation. All three hail from Burbhum district. They had been travelling from West Bengal to other parts of India and Bangladesh of late, without the knowledge of their family members. The police are interrogating some of them. They crossed over from Bangladesh using false documents and citing medical reasons, to ease their entry. This enabled them to use hospital premises as meeting places.

it is learnt that Railway authorities will soon install CCTV equipment in some smaller stations in West Bengal. It has been proposed to increase the number of Railway Force policemen in the state from the current level of around 3500 only. Steps to increase vigil in large, open crowded places or centres like markets, parks and playgrounds etc are under consideration.

There will be a greater role for local thana policemen and officers in the days ahead to ensure better security for the people. Among residents in every area, flat-owners are being asked to provide details about and photographs of their tenants, appointed servants or cooks and other staff/visitors. Private security arrangements for housing societies etc are generally satisfactory. These steps are being seen as part of a general drive to increase public awareness.

Police in India and Bangladesh are searching hard for the fourth person of Musa’s group, Mohammad Suleiman. He was an active member of Jamat-e-Islami in Bangladesh, before joining the Jamatul Mujahideen of Bangladesh (JMB). Among top Islamic terrorist leaders, Suleiman is known to have maintained close links with Sheikh Yousuf Mohammad, whose name cropped up during the Khagragarh bomb explosion in Burdwan a couple of years ago. He is presently connected with the extremist Ansarul Bahini in Bangladesh. This group is known to have killed many Awami league supporters and clashed with police before and during the elections there.

At Khargagarh, three persons were killed in the process of making bombs. Many grenades and other explosives were seized from the house they lived in. Yousuf, who remains at large with a large price on his head announced by the National Investigating Agency (NIA), had visited Khagragarh at least twice. The explosives produced here were sent to Bangladesh for use by Islamic fundamentalists against Awami league supporters and the police.

Such developments have brought the security and police authorities of India and Bangladesh closer as they grapple with the challenge posed by Islamic extremists on both sides of the border. Data and information are being shared regularly. From recent arrests made and movements of suspected terrorists, it is clear that in West Bengal, terror cells or modules have been set up at Malda, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Nadia, North 24 Parganas and parts of greater Kolkata. In addition fundamentalists are known to be active in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Dhaka , Sylhet and Khulna in Bangladesh.

The degree of co-ordination and planning among various extremist agencies on both sides of the border, with their associates helping them in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Kashmir, law enforcing authorities in Eastern Indian States are under considerable pressure. Assam is as badly affected by Islamic extremism as West Bengal. Musa and his associates are known to have operated at least 20 e-mail accounts, 12 Facebook and 8 Twitter accounts in the social media.

With the NIA coordinating its activities with all states, Bengal police are trying to ascertain how many youths Musa has been able to wean away from normal life in Bengal to work for the ISIS. Police are taking a fresh look at missing person reports. There is much concern over the prolonged absence from their homes of at least 13 youths in Kerala, most belonging to a particular community. Musa is considered a prize catch in that he is credited by his associates of having talked at least once to the ISIS chief Abu Bakr Al Bagdadi, through a video hookup. (IPA Service)