Militants spinning their web from jail

Prison walls are failing to contain a thriving terror web as militants behind bars apparently take advantage of lax surveillance to discuss ideas and make plans and keep their networks operational outside through visitors.

Banned militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) chief Jasimuddin Rahmani, Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) chief Saidur Rahman and those accused in the August 21 grenade attack case often hold meetings in Kashimpur Central Jail.

The accused militants, who subscribe to similar ideologies, manage to communicate with one another through various means since they have been staying in the same jail for quite a long time, according to an intelligence report submitted to the home ministry recently.

The identities of the persons, who meet the militants claiming to be family members, are not properly verified, according to the report.

It read that only copies of the identity cards are required for these visits but this is not enough to authenticate a visitor's relation with the inmate.

“Gaining unfair advantages, the militants are keeping their networks operational beyond the prison walls,” reads the report, which recommends increasing surveillance on those visits.

Based on the findings, the ministry directed the authorities concerned to take stringent measures in this regard and also increase surveillance on those released on bails.

Of the accused militant inmates, Sikandar Ali Noki, a close accomplice of Jasimuddin Rahmani, was visited by three persons claiming to be his wife, brother and father on multiple occasions within a month last year, the report said.

Two of the visits took place on consecutive days violating the jail code. 

Terming the practice unusual, the report observed, “The same is happening often in all prisons of the country.”

Noki, who had even chalked out a blueprint on how to attack VVIPs by breaking through the security chain, was released on bail on June 2 this year. He is accused in two cases under Anti-Terrorism Act and Explosive Substances Act.

On September 26 and 27 last year, Fatema Ishrat Jahan and Zulquarnine Noki, who claimed to be his wife and brother, met him twice in violation of the jail code.

Fatema met Noki also on August 29 and September 12 the same year.

“Since the accused [Noki] is linked with the militant high-ups, information should be gathered about his wife and brother through investigation,” read the report.

There are over a hundred accused militants in Kashimpur jail. Of them, more than 50 remain in the high-security unit.

Seven top militants, including Noki, were arrested on September 19, 2014 on charges of planning to assassinate VVIPs and snatch away ABT chief Jasimuddin Rahmani.

Police recovered from them 10kg chemicals mixed with gel, some jihadi books and leaflets propagating militancy.

With Noki released on bail, the remaining six, including acting JMB chief Abdullah Al Tasnim alias Nahid, “are often holding meetings” inside the high security unit of Kashimpur jail, the report mentioned.

“Before his arrest,” the report read, “Noki was an active member of Ansarullah Bangla Team and JMB. After two years of imprisonment, no change of his mindset could be perceived.”

There was information from secret sources that he would again coordinate activities of extremists and militants, it added. 

Contacted, Mijanur Rahman, senior jail superintendent of Kashimpur High Security Prison, said anybody seeking to meet militants is required to submit a copy of national identity card, mobile phone number, and details of relationship with the inmate.

The intelligence report termed the measure insufficient.

"It is not being verified in any jail whether some other people are pretending to be relatives for visiting detained militants and it is not possible to verify visitors' relations with militants only through copies of identity cards," it reads.

Stating that the militants' meetings with visitors take place in the presence of intelligence officials, Mijanur Rahman added that an inmate's meetings with visitors are allowed at least at 15-day intervals.

Since the accused militants are kept together, they can sometimes talk among themselves, but they are always strictly monitored, he claimed.

AFTER BAIL

The report apprehends that the militants released from prison are becoming more alert than before and coming up with new techniques to develop and coordinate secret networks.

Noki already had intimacy with absconding blogger killers, active ABT members, militant outfits based in Pakistan and planners of an attempted army coup in the country in 2012.

“As a result, while on bail now, he is likely to get involved in planning and coordinating them again,” the report observed.

“It is learnt from Noki's relatives that even before the order of his bail arrived [at the jail], a lot of cash was exchanged in the police station concerned so that he is not arrested again in cases filed against him,” it said.

Between February and May this year, at least 28 inmates belonging to banned militant outfits JMB and Hizb ut-Tahrir and involved in anti-state activities were released on bail from Kashimpur jail, says the report, which contained a list of 15 militants on bail.

There is almost no monitoring of their whereabouts and activities, the report said, citing different sources.

“The possibility that many of them were involved in recent secret killings and subversive activities cannot be dismissed.”

RECOMMENDATION

The report said it is very important to take effective steps and verify whether the released militants have been directly or indirectly spreading the network of militancy, collecting funds, making plans, training new members, recruiting and arranging bails for imprisoned militants.

Besides, the issue of granting bails to militant leaders should be thought afresh since it is heard from different sources that they spend huge amount of money to get bails, it read.

Strong directives should be given to the authorities concerned to increase surveillance and restrictions regarding bails granted to militants, top terrorists, Jamaat-Shibir activists and those accused in anti-state activities, the report added. 

It also recommended increasing surveillance and imposing restrictions on sending militant inmates' to courts, their meetings with outsiders and their treatment at hospitals.