Siliguri, 13th November: A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) once again visited Siliguri in connection with the Al-Qaeda terror funding case (RC 19-2023) and issued a notice to a resident of Matigara’s Patharghata area for questioning. The interrogation is linked to the 19th May 2024 arrest of an Al-Qaeda operative by Gujarat ATS from Porbandar.
According to sources, during questioning of the arrested terrorist, it was revealed that four individuals working at a textile factory in Gujarat had links to Bangladesh. All four were reportedly active members of the Al-Qaeda network and were involved in recruiting new members and facilitating terror funding. While one suspect was arrested, the remaining three went absconding and were later declared “most wanted.”
Last year, in pursuit of these absconding suspects, an NIA team had also conducted raids in Siliguri. On 11th November 2024, a five-member team of the NIA, assisted by STF, carried out a raid in Fulbari under NJP Police Station and detained one person for questioning for nearly nine hours. Though several documents and electronic devices were seized, the person was later released due to lack of concrete evidence.
Now, fresh developments have led the NIA to issue a new notice to a person from Matigara for questioning. Sources suggest that the agency has obtained new leads that may have a Siliguri connection. Following NIA’s visit, state intelligence agencies have been placed on alert. The NIA team has since returned to Delhi.