New Delhi: In a significant breakthrough, the West Bengal Polices Special Task Force (STF) on Saturday apprehended the head of a terror module affiliated with Al-Qaeda, operating from neighbouring Bangladesh. Officials confirmed the arrest of Mohammed Habibullah, the modules leader, from his residence in the Kanksa area of Burdwan West district.Shahadat terror module Shahadat is the terror module has ties with activists of Ansar-Al Islam, a banned outfit in Bangladesh known for its association with the global terrorist organization Al-Qaeda. Investigations revealed that Shahadat members communicated covertly through the messaging platform BiP to plan activities aimed at undermining the sovereignty and integrity of both India and Bangladesh.Police case registered A case has been registered at Kanksa Police Station under the Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Anti-terror Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).Al-QaedaAl-Qaeda is a pan-Islamist militant organization led by Sunni Jihadists who self-identify as a vanguard spearheading a global Islamist revolution to unite the Muslim world under a supra-national Islamic caliphate. Its membership is mostly composed of Arabs, but also includes people from other ethnic groups. The organization was founded in a series of meetings held in Peshawar during 1988, attended by Abdullah Azzam, Osama bin Laden, Muhammad Atef, Ayman al-Zawahiri and other veterans of the Soviet–Afghan War. Building upon the networks of Maktab al-Khidamat, the founding members decided to create an organization named Al-Qaeda to serve as a vanguard for jihad.India-Bangladesh relation The crackdown coincided with discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, focusing on enhancing bilateral defence cooperation to combat terrorism. Both leaders affirmed their commitment to bolstering defence ties, including defence production and modernization, and strengthening collaborative efforts in counter-terrorism, de-radicalization, and border management.PM Modi emphasized, We share a common vision for the Indian Ocean region and welcome Bangladeshs participation in the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. The joint efforts underscored the resolve to address regional security challenges and promote stability in the region.
