Bengal Increases Vigilance After Bangladesh Jailbreaks, Terror Fears

Security agencies across Bengal have intensified vigilance following reports that several terror suspects were among the 709 prisoners who escaped during two recent jailbreaks in Bangladesh. Both state and central agencies are actively gathering intelligence from the neighboring country, while police in Kolkata closely monitor the city and its suburbs.

On Tuesday, a mob armed with sticks stormed the Sherpur district jail, freeing over 500 prisoners. On the same day in Gazipur, approximately 209 inmates escaped from the high-security Kashimpur prison. In the latter incident, prison guards opened fire to prevent the escape, killing six individuals, including three militants.

Among the escapees is Ikramul Haque, also known as Abu Talha, who was arrested in 2023 by Bangladesh’s Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit, based on Indian intelligence, and later questioned by Bengal police in Dhaka. Authorities believe another escapee is Niyamatullah, identified as the leader of a module busted in Kolkata’s Haridevpur. Investigations are also underway to determine whether Abdul Alim, an operational commander of Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen, and Zakaria Mondal, who were believed to be in the same jail, also escaped.

With these four terror operatives from Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen and Ansarullah Bangla Team suspected to be on the run, law enforcement has increased surveillance in hotels, guesthouses, and “sensitive spots” around Bengal. Kolkata Police has instructed hotels to maintain detailed records of guests, with local officers collecting these details daily — or even twice a day in central Kolkata and surrounding areas — and reporting to Lalbazar and the Special Branch. Multiple areas in Kolkata where JMB personnel were previously hidden are also under scrutiny.

Bidhannagar police teams are patrolling areas near the airport, Narayanpur, Baguiati, Rajarhat, New Town, and Bhangar. An officer mentioned, “We are also monitoring brokers who have previously helped criminals from Bangladesh settle temporarily in Bengal.”

BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chawdhary met with district officials and trade representatives to warn them about the potential influx of criminals from Bangladesh. “We have been instructed not to allow anyone without verifying their IDs,” said a representative.