Bangladesh's banned Hizb ut-Tahrir expands into Bengal; Intelligence warns of growing threat in border areas

Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT), a banned Islamic militant group, has been expanding its activities in West Bengal, with intelligence agencies raising concerns about its growing presence, particularly in Malda, Murshidabad, and along the borders of Koch Bihar and Nadia. Intelligence reports indicate that two members of HuT, Sabbir Amir and Ridwan Maruf, crossed into India from Bangladesh earlier this year. After carrying out their operations, they returned to Bangladesh on May 30. During their time in India, the two men reportedly engaged with local individuals linked to extremist ideologies, raising alarms about potential radicalization in the region.

Sources state that the two members of HuT made contact with a youth from Vaishnavnagar, who reportedly hosted them at his maternal uncle's home in Dhuliyan. The youth claimed they discussed topics related to Khilafat and Islamic practices during their stay. The intelligence agencies have identified several other youths from Malda and Dhuliyan who have been involved in similar discussions, indicating a potential spread of HuT’s influence. This has prompted further surveillance of the region, with agencies monitoring potential recruitment activities linked to the group.

The expansion of HuT in West Bengal follows similar patterns seen with other banned organizations like Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Al-Qaeda, which have historically targeted border areas to extend their reach. Intelligence agencies suggest that HuT is focusing on areas with significant migrant worker populations from Malda, Murshidabad, and Koch Bihar. These migrant workers frequently travel to southern India, particularly Kerala and Tamil Nadu, creating opportunities for the group to establish logistical corridors connecting the Bangladesh border with the southern states. This geographic route has been utilized by other militant groups in the past, making it a key focus for HuT’s expansion strategy.

A significant portion of the migrant workforce in these regions moves to southern India for employment, providing a potential target pool for HuT recruitment efforts. The group's established presence in southern India, along with its connections to handlers in Pakistan and the Middle East, has given it the logistical capabilities to extend its operations. These international links have enabled the group to move resources and personnel across borders, making it easier to sustain its activities and expand its reach.

Intelligence agencies also report that HuT is capitalizing on the porous border between West Bengal, Assam, and Bangladesh to gain support from militants across the border. This allows the group to receive logistical backing and potentially more direct assistance from militant groups based in Bangladesh. This method mirrors strategies previously employed by JMB and Al-Qaeda, which utilized cross-border networks for refuge, logistical support, and operational coordination. Additionally, HuT is believed to be leveraging old sleeper cells from organizations like HuJI (Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami) and SIMI (Students Islamic Movement of India) to further its operations in the region. These sleeper cells have previously been involved in recruitment and coordination of militant activities, providing an established network for HuT’s expansion in West Bengal and other bordering areas.