‘Liaise with jail admin, track terror suspects’ visitors’
Times of India | 28 May 2025
Kolkata: Both Kolkata Police and Bengal Police have issued directives to all police stations and specialised units to liaise with the jail administration and intensify monitoring of individuals visiting imprisoned militants. This follows the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam and the fast-changing political landscape in Bangladesh. The comprehensive security measure includes scrutiny of prison visitor logs and verification of visitors' identities to identify potential links to militant organisations."We are focusing on individuals who were previously arrested for harbouring militants and are currently out on bail," said an officer. The directive is part of a broader national security initiative by the ministry of home affairs (MHA) in response to the Pahalgam attack. Intelligence sources reveal that dormant members of various militant groups might become active during this period. "We have reason to believe that sleeper cells could be activated. The monitoring of certain individuals travelling from outside the state has also been intensified as a precautionary measure," said an officer.Of particular concern is the potential connection between illegal arms dealers and militant groups. Previous investigations uncovered evidence of weapons being channelled to sleeper-cell members through established arms trafficking networks. The KP STF, which arrested Ramkrishna Majhi with 120 cartridges at Esplanade, said a man called Saidul had sent him stocks of illegal ammunition from Bihar. A team is likely to visit Bihar in this regard. "At least two other members of this gang are on our radar," an officer said. "We have instructed all police stations to gather intelligence on arms dealers who might be supplying weapons to militant organisations. This is crucial for preventing any potential security threats," said a joint CP. The police are also coordinating with central intelligence agencies to share information and resources. A special team has been established to monitor suspicious financial transactions that might indicate militant funding.