Seventeen Bangladeshis held for religious preaching: Assam DGP

There has been no evidence as yet to indicate that they were involved in “radicalisation preaching”, the top police officer said.

Assam Director General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta on Sunday said the 17 Bangladeshis arrested from Biswanath district were held for indulging in “religious preaching” in violation of tourist visa norms.

However, there has been no evidence as yet to indicate that they were involved in “radicalisation preaching”, the top police officer said.

There had been several instances of ‘mullahs’ from the neighbouring country entering the state on tourist visas and engaging themselves in religious preaching, including spreading radical ideals, the DGP said.

Many such preachers have been banned from entering Assam, Mr. Mahanta said.

Seventeen Bangladeshis, including a "religious preacher", were arrested from the Baghmari area in Biswanath district on Saturday on charges of violating visa norms, police had said.

Of the 17 people, eight are currently in police remand, while the rest are in judicial custody.

They had reached Biswanath on September 13 by bus from Cooch Behar district in West Bengal.