Intelligence agencies have revealed a lot of arrested JMB activists have expressed their desire to take part in terror-related activities in Kashmir. Intel agencies have given a warning to states like Bihar, Assam and Jharkhand. IS has targeted youths via their publications, Dabiq and Amaq. STF of Kolkata Police have nabbed half a dozen terror-operatives

Central intelligence agencies have revealed a worrying trend of indoctrinated youth from West Bengal and other parts of eastern India who are heading to Kashmir to swell the rank of home-grown militants.

The Intelligence Bureau (IB) have already given a warning to states like Bihar, Assam and Jharkhand in this regard. Central intelligence agencies see an Islamic State (IS) hand behind this trend. Since losing foothold in Syria, IS has targeted youths via their publications 'Dabiq' and 'Amaq'.

Reportedly they have asked recruits to desist from travelling to Syria and try and link up with Jihadi elements that are operating closer to home. Sleuths believe this to be one of the reason for new recruits heading to Kashmir.

In the past one year, Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police have nabbed at least half a dozen terror-operatives of the banned Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) from Malda and Murshidabad. They had targeted Dalai Lama's Bodh Gaya function. Later, NIA took over their custody. It was revealed that the detained were part of modules established by top JMB leaders, including Kausar and Salauddin. Interrogations have revealed that they wanted to travel to Kashmir and take part in Jihadi activities there.

State intelligence agency sources have revealed that a lot of other arrested JMB activists have expressed their desire to take part in terror-related activities in Kashmir. JMB was the most active terror organisation in eastern India. Their area of focus have been Bangladesh. Due to ideological and logistic reasons, so far they have stayed out of the Kashmiri cause.

Instead they have taken up the Rohingyas as their preferred cause and target group. Even the Bodh Gaya terror strike was planned to consolidate their position as the champions of the Rohingya casue.

The arrest of most of the top leadership of JMB has led to this change of hearts, or so the intel agencies believe. Agencies infer that since all modules or activists were not caught, they continued indoctrination in West Bengal and the neighbouring states. A number of these youths may already be in Kashmir.

What lends credence to this theory is the recent arrest of one Kamar Uz Zaman from Kanpur. Police sources claim that he is a member of Hizbul Mujahideen. He is originally from Hojai, Assam. Active on the social media, sustained interrogation has led to half a dozen more arrests.