Illegal Immigration Drive Pushes Terror Cells Underground

New Delhi (IANS): India’s intensifying crackdown on illegal immigration has forced a significant number of overground terror operatives to go into hiding, according to intelligence reports. Handlers from Pakistan-backed terror groups have reportedly ordered these operatives—primarily illegal migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar—to “go underground” and await further instructions to avoid detection during nationwide deportation drives.

The Strategy: Blending into the Labor Force

Intelligence agencies reveal that groups like Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HuJI) and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), both operating under the ISI, specifically pushed these individuals into India to form sleeper cells. Unlike traditional operatives, these individuals blend into the migrant population by working as ordinary laborers.

Their primary mission involves conducting reconnaissance on non-military targets, such as:

• Railway stations and bus stands

• Crowded marketplaces

• Sensitive public locations

Detection Challenges and Regional Hubs

Officials note that these operatives maintain a low profile, conducting reconnaissance only once every 15 days to minimize risk. To further evade suspicion, they often move in groups that include legal residents.

While these groups target West Bengal and the Northeast, investigators have identified Kerala and Tamil Nadu as major housing hubs. Operatives frequently seek refuge in labor camps housing Bengali-speaking migrants, where they can vanish into the crowd.

Divided Roles: Reconnaissance vs. Execution

Under the current terror model, those conducting the reconnaissance are rarely the ones who execute the attacks.

• Phase 1: Illegal immigrants gather intelligence and map out targets.

• Phase 2: Once a plan is finalized, the groups send in highly trained “strike teams” from across the border to carry out the mission.

Government Action: A Nationwide Crackdown

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has recently directed all states to form Special Task Forces (STFs) in every district to identify and deport illegal migrants. This policy has already led to the identification and deportation of over 4,000 individuals.

While the JMB reportedly intended to strike during the West Bengal elections, experts say the current “high heat” from security agencies has stalled their plans. However, counterterrorism officials warn that this remains a “ticking time bomb,” as operatives are merely waiting for scrutiny to decrease before resuming their activities.