Image: jasimuddinrahmani
Recently released Bangladeshi Islamist leader, Jashimuddin Rahmani Hafi, has called on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to declare independence from India. Hafi, the chief of the terrorist group Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), was freed from jail last month by the interim regime of Mohammed Yunus, which came to power after toppling the government of Sheikh Hasina.
In a video message, Hafi urged Mamata to “free Bengal from Modi’s rule” and warned of “breaking up” India and “hoisting Islamist flags in Delhi”. He also threatened to take China’s help and block the Siliguri Corridor, a narrow strip of land that connects the northeast Indian states with the rest of the country.
Hafi, who was convicted of murdering secular bloggers in Bangladesh, also vowed to work towards separating Kashmir from India. “Tell Kashmir to get ready for freedom. Pakistan and Afghanistan together will help Kashmir gain independence,” he said.
Warning India against taking action against him, Hafi said, “This is our sacred land. If you dare to look this way, your eyes will be taken out… Take a step forward, and your legs will be broken… Reach out, and your hands will be cut off…”
The release of Hafi from prison has raised concerns that Islamist and radical forces will gain control in Bangladesh, making it a safe haven for anti-India elements sponsored by Pakistan. During her tenure, Hasina had cracked down on Islamist organizations and terrorist groups, earning her the ire of Islamists and Pakistan.
