Assam appears to be target of al Qaeda, Jamaat- ul-Mujahideen: Gogoi tells PM.

New Delhi: Assam appears to have become the target of organisations like al Qaeda and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Chief
Minister Tarun Gogoi said as he asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday to take up the issue with neighbouring countries for
coordinated action.

This was conveyed by Gogoi when he met Modi here.

"Of late, Assam appears to have been targeted by fundamentalist organisations like Al Qaeda. Some
operatives having links with Jamaat-ul- Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) were recently arrested in Assam," Gogoi was quoted as saying in a an official release.

Taking up the problem of militancy and threat from fundamentalist organisations, Gogoi made a
plea to Modi to take up the matter with neighbouring countries at appropriate levels for sharing of intelligence and coordinated action.

"There should be similar mechanism at the interstate level for West Bengal and North Eastern states so that issues of jurisdiction do not come in the way of dealing with insurgency and militancy," the release said.

Gogoi also met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and later told reporters that jehadi activities were
going on in the state.

The Chief Minister also said his government may hand over the probe of the Barpeta case, in which six persons were arrested in connection
with the October 2 blast in West Bengal's Burdwan town, to National Investigation Agency which is probing the Burdwan case.

"Activities are going on...ISI activities, jehadi activities are going on. There is no doubt about that. We do not deny that," he said.

Asked about activities of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), which were involved in a blast in West Bengal's Burdwan, Gogoi said Assam
Police got some evidence on the activities of JMB and on the basis of that six people were arrested in Barpeta.

"We are cooperating with NIA. On the very first day, we have welcomed NIA because it is easier for NIA to find out the origin as the case has
links with Bangladesh, West Bengal and other states," he said when asked whether the case will be handed over to NIA.

Gogoi said his government was taking all possible steps against anti-national activities, including
ISI presence.

"We are very much concerned. We are taking measures and we will not allow ISI and anybody to have a base. We will not compromise on
national security and national integrity," he said.

PTI