Dibrugarh, May 25: Tinsukia Police have busted a suspected inter-state terror funding network and arrested five persons, including a student leader, in connection with the case.
The investigation began following actionable intelligence inputs from a central agency indicating that funds allegedly extorted in the Tinsukia district were being systematically routed to extremist elements outside the Northeast.
Police first apprehended Debashish Gohain, a journalist associated with a news portal. During interrogation, he allegedly revealed crucial links leading investigators to Maharashtra.
Addressing a joint press conference, Additional Superintendent of Police (HQ) Mrinmoy Das and ASP (Crime) Dinesh Pratap Singh Rathore said Gohain disclosed that a substantial amount of money had been transferred to Sheikh Bashir, a resident of Palghar district in Maharashtra.
Bashir, who reportedly travelled frequently to the Northeast and neighbouring countries, was arrested with assistance from Maharashtra Police and is being brought to Assam for further interrogation.
ASP Das said investigators found that money had also been deposited into several bank accounts across multiple states, prompting Tinsukia Police to dispatch teams to various locations as part of the ongoing probe.
Subsequent raids led to the arrest of three more accused — Samar Jyoti Gohain, Assistant General Secretary (AGS) of the central unit of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and a resident of Tinsukia, Deepu Chetia Patra of Jorhat, and Mrityunjay Konwar of Naharkatia.
The accused have been booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Explosive Substances Act, and the Arms Act in connection with Tinsukia Police Station Case Nos. 98/2026 and 110/2026.
“This can be termed an inter-state and international terror funding case. Sheikh Bashir had frequent travel history to some neighbouring countries as well as the Northeast. His financial transactions are highly suspicious. Only after detailed interrogation of all the accused will the exact motive behind the alleged funding network and the organisation for which the funds were being collected become clear,” ASP Das said.
Highly placed sources said the money deposited in the accounts was allegedly extortion funds collected on behalf of the banned outfit ULFA-Independent (ULFA-I), with instructions to route the funds to the accounts of Bashir and others.
