New Delhi, March 21: In its crackdown on Bangladeshi nationals, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has said that it is investigating the case of five immigrants who are staying illegally in the state. As per reports, these migrants are the members of Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), a banned terror outfit of Bangladesh and supposedly a front organisation of Al-Qaeda.

The ATS suspects that members of Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), a Bangladesh-based terror group could target major cities in the country. As per reports by TOI, the Police said they may have harboured and financially helped some associates. Reports further inform that on Sunday, Aahat Ali (30) was detained in Ambernath while Hassan Ali (24) was arrested on Monday. Both the arrested men hail from Jaishar, Bangladesh. All five are in police custody till March 29.

As per reports by FPJ, the five Bangladeshi nationals have been booked under relevant sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967, IPC, Passport (entry to India) Rules 1955, Foreigners Order 1948, Foreigners Act 1946. The officer added the key accused Raj Mandal (31) works as a supervisor in a construction company which is owned by a sensitive organisation.

It must be noted that the terror group acts as the front-runner of Al-Qaeda in Asean countries. The ATS is of the opinion that these terrorists might have entered several cities of the country from India-Bangladesh border.  A senior ATS officer said, “ABT was banned in Bangladesh almost couple of years ago. Taking advantage of porous Indo-Bangladesh border, the ABT members have entered Indian territory illegally and are fanned in the country”.

According to sources, the ABT has become a threat for the country. The ATS has begun its crackdown on illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, who are staying in the state with fake documents like pan card and Aadhar card. On March 17, the Maharashtra ATS arrested 12 such persons after an alert from central agencies that since the ABT has been banned in Bangladesh in 2016, the members of the organisation can enter India's major cities to create their base, said a source.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 21, 2018 03:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).