70 sleeper cell members trained in Bengal and Assam for IEDs and weapons handling

Over the past decade, at least 70 sleeper cell members in Bengal and Assam have received specialized training in handling firearms and manufacturing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). These individuals, reportedly trained by a militant group, acquired skills in assembling automatic firearms, including rifles resembling AK-47s, and in creating various types of explosives. Law enforcement officials revealed that the training also covered the maintenance and repair of firearms, making the operatives capable of handling a range of weaponry.

Recent operations have led to the arrest of 10 individuals, including key members Shad and Nur Islam, whose interrogations yielded crucial information. During these interrogations, authorities seized hand-made rifles, materials for IED production, and other weapon-related items. The Assam Police confirmed that the cartridges recovered from these operatives indicate recent firearms training. Additionally, investigators discovered IED components, including metal casings, which are typically used for constructing bombs with remote or timer detonators.

Investigators have traced the location of some of the training to Assam's Kokrajhar district, though it remains unclear whether the operatives traveled from Bengal to Assam or received training within Bengal itself. The IED components recovered include splinters, shrapnel, and electronic switches, all of which are consistent with the construction of remote-controlled bombs. Police also found evidence of preparation for large-scale attacks, with authorities expressing concern about the sophistication of the weaponry involved.

This marks the third known instance of such discoveries in the region. Similar hand-made rifles and IED materials were previously recovered by Assam Police in 2015 and 2021, in the Barpeta and Chirang districts of Assam. These operations suggest that militants, possibly from Bangladesh, have been training individuals in the region on weapons handling and bomb-making. Following these findings, intelligence agencies have issued nationwide alerts, with a focus on identifying and neutralizing sleeper cells and preventing further attacks.