Two More Sentenced in National Investigation Agency's Case Against Ansarullah Bangla Team

In a recent ruling by a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Guwahati, two additional defendants have received sentences related to their involvement with the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT). Mufti Suleiman Ali and Imran Hossen were both sentenced to imprisonment and fines for various violations of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). This sentencing brings the total number of individuals convicted in this case to nine; earlier, seven other defendants faced similar penalties.

The sentences for Ali and Hossen include a period of Simple Imprisonment (SI) for six months, along with a monetary fine of Rs 500. Should they fail to pay, an additional 14 days of SI could be imposed. Additionally, they were sentenced to Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) for the time they have already served—specifically, 2 years and about 8 months—under several sections of the UAPA.

The investigation leading to this case began in March 2022 and centers around an ABT module that is reportedly linked to the proscribed international terrorist organization Al Qaeda in the Indian Sub-Continent (AQIS). Under the direction of Saiful Islam, a national from Bangladesh, this module had been operating in Assam's Barpeta district.

In August 2022, the NIA filed charges against eight individuals, and a supplementary chargesheet against two more was introduced in August 2023. The NIA continues to investigate and prosecute this ongoing case. Just over a week ago, another two accused were sentenced in the same ABT investigation, reflecting an ongoing effort to address terrorism-related activities within the region.