Guwahati: Assam government has banned all forms of ‘radical or jihadi’ religious literature in the state with immediate effect. The decision comes after seeing desperate efforts by Bangladesh based terrorist organisations to lure Muslim youth of the state to join the radical jihadi and anti-India terror networks. In a letter to the home department of Assam from Assistant Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) on November 26 stated that Bangladesh based terrorist groups like Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), Ansar-Al-Islam or Pro-AQIS (Al Qaida in Indian Subcontinent) are trying to radicalised vulnerable section of Muslim youth through Jihadi literatures.
The letter by AIGP (L&O) to the home department stated that intelligence inputs, cyber patrolling reports and investigations done by Special Task Force (STF) indicates the continued circulation, possession, dissemination and digital transmission of radical/jihadi literatures, publications, documents and digital propaganda materials linked to terror groups like JMB, ABT and AQIS in the state. These materials include glorifying violent jihad, promoting radicalisation, providing ideological indoctrination and facilitating recruitment guidance, and incitement against the sovereignty of India. These jihadi liturates are posing a grave threat to the internal security, public law and order and communal harmony.
After careful observation of the reports, the government of Assam has decided to prohibit publication, printing, circulation, distribution, sale, exhibition, possession and storage of physical and digital of any radical/jihadi liturates, documents materials or digital contents associated with Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), Ansar-Al-Islam or Pro-AQIS (Al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent) or any other banned or similar terrorist outfits. Along with the state government has proscribed all websites, social media pages, encrypted channels, online groups, digital platforms propagating extremism, jihadi contents for the safeguard of India’s internal security and preventing vulnerable youth from falling prey to radical Islamic propaganda.
In an order dated 3rd December, the home department of government of Assam stated that under the power conferred to the state by the section 98 of Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) the state government has proscribed any form of jihadi/radical literature in the state with immediate effects. The order stated that Assam police, Special Branch (SB), Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Cyber Units, law enforcement agencies and District Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) will take necessary legal actions under applicable provisions of law against all violators.
