Mumbai: The Pune unit of the state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested three illegal Bangladeshi migrants, who are allegedly associated with the banned terror outfit called the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), also known as Ansar Bangla, which is allegedly a faction of terror organisation Al Qaeda. The arrests were carried out on Friday from Wanvadi and Akurdi localities in Pune, following information on their presence from another group of illegal immigrants apprehended from Panvel in Navi Mumbai.
The ATS officials learnt that several illegal Bangladeshi nationals were living in and around Pune and had clear links to the ABT, a Bangladesh-based banned terror outfit. Several teams of the anti-terror wing raided Wanvadi and Akurdi areas in Pune on Friday. The accused are all residents of Satani Pushkali in Khulna district and from Birajikundi in Shariyatpur districts of Bangladesh.
The officials also found that the faction had procured forged identity documents like Pan and Aadhaar cards to substantiate their Indian identities. One of the accused had been staying and working near a sensitive establishment near Pune.
“We have learnt that the apprehended accused had been staying in Pune for a few years and have been helping members of ABT by giving them shelter during their stay in Pune. They would act as logistic operators for the visiting ABT affiliates,” said an ATS officer.
The ATS has registered a case against them as per the provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), the Indian Penal Code, Passport (Entry Into India) Rules and the Foreigners Act.
On Tuesday, the Navi Mumbai unit of the ATS had busted a sleeper cell affiliated with the ABT from Jui Gaon near Panvel and apprehended five illegal Bangladeshi nationals.
Their interrogation led the ATS to the facilitator from Kharghar in Navi Mumbai,who helped the illegal Bangladeshis to procure Indian identity documents like PAN and Aadhar cards. The officials have seized stock of such documents from him and he has been remanded to ATS custody till March 21.
The accused Bangladeshis were Yasin Shaikh (20), Babloo Gazi (34), Mutiyar Sardar (38) ,Mohammad Shaikh (22), and Jamil Hussain Shaikh (35).
