The Delhi Police’s Special Cell late on Sunday arrested Samiun Rahman alias Shumon Haq alias Raju Bhai, 28, who had trained and fought in Syria against government forces, and recently visited Bangladesh where a large number of Rohingyas have taken shelter.
The police have arrested an Al-Qaeda operative of British nationality, who had been stationed in Delhi to raise funds, set up bases in Mizoram and Manipur, radicalise youth to fight for Rohingya Muslims — fleeing Myanmar to escape violence — and carry out attacks to back the refugees.
The Delhi Police’s Special Cell late on Sunday arrested Samiun Rahman alias Shumon Haq alias Raju Bhai, 28, who had trained and fought in Syria against government forces, and recently visited Bangladesh where a large number of Rohingyas have taken shelter.
The police said he was a resident of 96, Redman House, Portpool Lane in London, and a member of Jabhat al-Nusra, an affiliate of al-Qaeda in Syria. He was arrested in a raid after the police received inputs that a man trying to recruit cadres for jihad was going to come to east Delhi’s Shakarpur area.
Special Cell DCP Pramod Singh Kushwah said a loaded pistol, a laptop, and some mobile phones were recovered from his possession. A case has been registered and further investigation is on.
“He was planning to carry out terror attacks by radicalising youths in Delhi and other parts of India, in favour of Rohingyas. He was in Delhi-NCR to set up a base for al-Qaeda and recruit cadres. He was being assisted by various al-Qaeda cadres in Delhi, Hazaribagh, and other places in India, who are now being identified,” Kushwah said.
Rahman was born and brought up in England. He was influenced by the ideology of al-Qaeda and joined the outfit in 2013. He underwent three-week training in Syria and fought there till 2014.
His group in Syria then came to know about the “atrocities” on Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar. “He was selected to raise a fighter group there. In 2014, he arrived in Bangladesh to radicalise youths to join al-Qaeda, with the help of one Yasin, a resident of Bangladesh and a former al-Qaeda member,” the officer said.
Investigation revealed that Rahman had already visited some places in Bangladesh. “He had been arrested there in 2014 for terror-related activities. He spent three years in jail before being released on bail in April, 2017. He was in contact with his outfit members via social media. After his release, he contacted Mohammad Jowlani, a Syrian and the head of al-Qaeda’s al-Nusra front, who directed him to go to India,” Kushwah said.
In July, 2017, Rahman came to India and lived in various madrasas of Kishanganj in Bihar, Hazaribagh in Jharkhand, Delhi-NCR, and other places.
At a glance
Militant: Samiun Rahman alias Shumon Haq alias Raju Bhai, 28
Origin: Born in Port Pool Lane, London
Training: Joined al-Qaeda in 2013 and received 3-week training in a Syria camp and fought there till 2014
Missions:
To set up an al-Qaida base in Mizoram and Manipur to fight for Rohingya Muslims
To raise funds and incite youths to fight for the cause of Rohingya Muslims
To facilitate Rohingyas’ entry into Myanmar from Mizoram and Manipur
To establish the module’s base in India for easier operations
Operations:
Visited Silhet, Nabiganj, Dhaka, and other places in Bangladesh to radicalise dozens of youths
Stayed at various madrasas in Kishanganj (Bihar), Hazaribagh (Jharkhand), and Delhi-NCR
Was cultivating a number of youths via social media
Was in direct contact with Mohammad Jowlani, a Syrian and the head of al-Qaeda’s Al Nusra front
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