In a decisive move to counter a perceived surge in extremist activities, the Assam government has officially banned all forms of literature and content linked to fundamentalist groups from Bangladesh. This action comes amid heightened security concerns following recent political instability in the neighboring country.
Invoking New Legal Powers for a State Ban
The state administration, on December 4, issued a sweeping notification prohibiting a wide range of activities related to radical propaganda. The ban covers the publication, printing, circulation, distribution, sale, exhibition, possession, and storage of any physical or digital materials associated with outfits like the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT).
Significantly, this marks the first instance where Assam has utilized provisions under the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, to impose such a restriction. Top government sources stated the objective is to "safeguard internal security and prevent vulnerable youth from falling prey to extremist propaganda."
Cross-Border Links and Rising Concerns
Security agencies have reported an increase in fundamentalist activities in certain pockets of Assam, particularly in districts bordering Bangladesh and adjoining regions. Sources indicate that over the past two years, more than 20 members of radical groups, including JMB, ABT, Ansar-Al-Islam, and pro-AQIS factions, have been arrested from areas like Dhubri, Goalpara, and Barpeta.
The situation is believed to have intensified after the recent political upheaval in Bangladesh. "Many radical leaders reportedly fled prisons in Bangladesh during the unrest and attempted to enter India to continue their activities," revealed a source. There is a strong apprehension that these elements are targeting mostly illiterate youths in remote areas of the state for radicalization.
The Digital Challenge for Law Enforcement
While the ban on physical materials is a key step, authorities acknowledge major hurdles in the digital domain. Extremist groups are increasingly employing sophisticated methods to evade detection.
"They develop mobile apps, use those for a short time for communication and shut those down, and again create new ones to circulate articles or radical literature and misinterpreted religious texts," explained a source. The use of the dark web and encrypted messages for communication further complicates monitoring efforts.
The source cited the recent blast near the Red Fort in Delhi as an example of how even highly qualified individuals can be indoctrinated, emphasizing that both educated and vulnerable youths are at risk. Despite the challenges, officials maintain that "detection of such digital tools is challenging, but not impossible."
The Assam government's preemptive ban, powered by the new legal framework, underscores a focused strategy to disrupt the propaganda networks of transnational Islamist militant groups and stem the potential radicalization of its youth.
