In a swift and surprise action, the Special Task Force (STF) from West Bengal has apprehended Anwar Anisur Rahman, a wanted terrorist associated with the Ansar Al Islam terror module. Rahman was sought in connection with the Burdwan terror attack that occurred in West Bengal ten years ago.
The Arrest Operation and Background of the Suspect
Acting on a tip-off, a five-member STF team from West Bengal, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) F Kandi Dev, arrived in Chennai. They meticulously monitored a three-star hotel in Koyambedu where Rahman was reportedly employed in the laundry unit. After confirming his identity, the team sought assistance from the Tamil Nadu police. Rahman was tracked down near Kaali Amman Kovil Road, close to TAISHA, where IAS and IPS officers’ quarters are located.
Anwar Anisur Rahman is a member of Ansar Al Islam, a fundamentalist outfit. He was implicated in the preparation of bombs, arms, and ammunition, maintaining hideouts, and organizing terrorist training camps as part of a broader conspiracy to carry out terrorist attacks in India and Bangladesh. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Kolkata Special Task Force have been probing the Burdwan case.
The Burdwan Terror Attack
The Burdwan terror attack dates back to October 2, 2014, when a bomb explosion in a rented house in Khagragarh, Burdwan, killed two individuals and injured another. The investigation revealed that the individuals involved were members of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), engaged in terror activities.
Legal Proceedings and Previous Arrests Linked to the Module
The Kolkata police have booked Rahman under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) 1967. The sections include 121, 121(A), 123, 125 of IPC, and 17, 18, 18(A), 18(B), 20 of UAPA. A manhunt was launched for the suspects following these charges.
In 2018, another suspected terrorist, Burhan Sheikh, was arrested from the Viswabharati Fast Passenger train at Burdwan station. He was linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) and JMB. Similarly, Harej Sheikh from Molapara in Mayapur was apprehended at Howrah station last Tuesday, based on the interrogation of Md. Habibullah, the terror module’s chief of operations, who was arrested in Burdwan three days prior.
Initial investigations revealed that Rahman had moved to Chennai six months ago, hiding his identity while staying at a friend’s house in Koyambedu. According to Tamil Nadu police sources, Rahman was not involved in any criminal activities within the state. The West Bengal STF team, after obtaining a transit warrant, transported him to Kolkata for further interrogation and legal proceedings.
Tamil Nadu Police’s Role
The Tamil Nadu police have begun questioning the individual who helped Rahman secure a job at the three-star hotel and the friends who provided him accommodation. Intelligence Bureau sources have identified three more associates of Habibullah, including Harej.
The arrest has sparked criticism, with some alleging that Tamil Nadu has become a safe haven for fundamentalist outfits. Critics argue that while the police are preoccupied with arresting social media activists critical of the ruling government, they have neglected serious issues such as illicit brewing, crimes against women and children, narcotics, and daylight murders.
A police source mentioned that in Coimbatore, a crackdown on social media activists has been launched. Before the 2026 assembly elections, there is a concerted effort to dismantle networks associated with the BJP, RSS, and their allies. The source claimed that these actions are intended to intimidate activists and prevent them from engaging in social media activities, with the aim of keeping them detained for extended periods and entangling them in legal cases.
