Terrorist in 10 months

Militants arrested in recent times are mostly youths just past their adolescence. It has been found from their statements that militant outfits maintain a three-tier hierarchy -- ideological leaders at the top, so-called military commanders in the second tier and field-level militants who execute plans in the third. Arrested militants are mostly in the third tier.

Two new radical Islamist groups that have built an extensive network in the country over the last several years follow the manuals of al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IS) in recruiting members. Bangladesh detectives do not have the exact number of the members of the militant organisations.

One is Ansar Al Islam, previously known as Ansarullah Bangla Team. It claims to be the Bangladesh branch of al-Qaeda in Indian Sub-Continent (AQIS). The other one is a group leaning towards IS.

The confessional statement of an arrested Ansar Al Islam member gives an idea about the recruitment process of his organisation. In the statement, he also described how he became a militant and how he was trained to be a killer in 10 months.

His name is Suman Hossain Patwari. He is one of those assigned to kill Ahmedur Rashed Chowdhury Tutul, owner of Shuddhoswar Publication.

Tutul along with two others was hacked on October 31 last year at his office in Lalmatia. They eventually survived the attack.

The same day, another cell of Ansar Al Islam hacked to death publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan of Jagriti Prokashani in his Shahbagh office.

Both Shuddhoswar and Jagriti had published books of blogger-writer Avijit Roy, who was brutally murdered in TSC area by suspected Islamist militants on February 26, 2015.

The two cells of Ansar Al Islam didn't know one another.

Suman used various pseudonyms, like Shihab or Saquib or Saiful, in his organisational activities. This was the rule of his organisation. Everyone must use pseudonyms.

Police arrested 19-year-old Suman in Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area on June 15. Earlier on May 19, police had announced Tk 2 lakh bounty each on some militants, including Suman.

Sumon gave his confessional statement to the court under section 164 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) on June 21. This writer has obtained a copy of the statement.

LURED INTO MILITANCY

Suman's home village is in Chandpur. But he lived with parents and siblings in Halishahar of Chittagong. He took Higher Secondary Examination (HSC) last year but couldn't pass. He worked as a salesman at a medical equipment shop in Anderkilla of the port city.

He was first picked for the group by a man named Kawsar, whom he met at a mosque near Halishahar A-Block Bus Stand in early January last year.

In Halishahar A Block, Kawsar ran a shop for stitching rickshaw hoods. Sumon used to hang around with Kawsar regularly while going to his college.

Kawsar used to talk about the Holy Quran and the Hadith.

Sometime later, Suman met with a bearded man wearing Punjabi and skull cap at Kawsar's shop. They too discussed the Quran and the Hadith.

One day Kawsar introduced Suman to a grocer named Yusuf. Suman started to visit Yusuf's shop and discuss religion. Once again, he met that bearded man there. His name is Mahbub.

After a few days, Mahbub phoned and asked him to come to A Block Central Jam-e-Mosque. After offering Zohr prayers, Mahbub introduced him to another man named Mehraz.

Mehraz often discussed jihad with Suman. He opened an ID for Suman on protectedtext.com website. From that ID, Suman started online chats with Mehraz about jihad.

Slowly his mind got infested with the thoughts of jihad.

FIRST ASSIGNMENT

At the next stage, Mahbub introduced Suman to one Mahmud at the A Block Jam-e-Mosque.

Mahmud also talked about the Quran and the Hadith. One day, he asked if Suman would like to go someplace for a few days.

Suman accepted the offer.

Mahmud told Suman to forget other acquaintances. He might not get to see even Mahmud.

Meanwhile, Yusuf called up Suman asking him to come to his shop. There, he met another man named Ashraf.

Ashraf took Suman's mobile number and opened another ID named “solo runner”.  Sumon used that ID to chat with Ashraf.

LEAVING CHITTAGONG

After a few days, Ashraf messaged him to go to the passenger shade near the Tongi College Gate and phone him.

Suman followed the instruction, left Chittagong and came to Tongi.

As he sent Ashraf a message, a man named Raihan received him. As per Raihan's instruction, Suman threw away the SIM card and battery of his mobile phone.

Raihan led him to a two-room ground-floor flat of a building walking through an alley named Bornomala in the Tongi College Gate area. Two persons were at the flat. Soon two more joined them. Suman learnt their names as Akash, Taiyab, Alam and Rafi.

TRAINING

Suman stayed at the house for three months. Raihan tutored them on the Holy Quran and the Hadith and also acted as a physical instructor.

At the end of his stay, a man named Raju taught Suman how to use machete. He also oversaw financial supplies.

Asking any question was not allowed.

After a few days, Rafi, Taiyab, Alam and Raihan left the house. Another batch of four persons -- Tahsin, Babar, Yahia and Sabbir -- came to stay. These four and Suman were given training on how to operate pistol and machete.

One day a “Boro Bhai” (elder brother) came to the centre with Saquib and Hadi. He was apparently the team leader. He told all that they would have to devote themselves to jihad for Allah and kill all atheists. He said he was a military officer. But he has left the military for jihad. He used the name Ishtiaq.

THE ASSIGNMENT

According to Suman, one day Hadi brought him a picture of someone saying this atheist is an enemy of Islam as he publishes books against Islam. He has to be killed. “You have been brought here and trained to kill him.”

Hadi named the target as Tutul and gave him the Lalmatia address of Shuddhoswar. Tahsin was designated as the group leader of this operation.

After getting this assignment, they went on a recce to the surroundings of Tutul's office.

OCT 31

Tahsin, Babar, Yahia and Suman had machetes in their bags and Sabbir had a pistol and a machete in his. 

“We positioned ourselves around Shuddhoswar office from the morning. Tutul arrived at Shuddhoswar after noon. After a while, Saquib came to me and I informed him that Tutul has entered his office. Then Saquib commanded us to go and he left.

“We entered Tutul's office around 2:45pm. We pointed the gun at the doorman and upon entering the office we started hacking those inside the room. Sabbir fired a bullet at one person. I recognised Tutul and hacked him with my machete. The machete hit his hand. Except for the doorman, we shot at and chopped the three persons, including Tutul, in the room and came out on the street.”

“We moved out separately and reunited at that house in Tongi. Then we left for our separate destinations. I returned to Chittagong.”

THE MANUAL

An analysis of Suman's confession shows that he was recruited in the manner outlined in al-Qaeda manual. For instance, in the beginning, they only talked about Islam, the Quran and the Hadith.

Then in separate stages, he talked about the Quran and the Hadith with three persons and the fourth person began talking about jihad. Then they motivated him for jihad by using internet.

In the next step, he was given physical training and taught to operate machete and pistol. As per the manual, Suman had to snap all kinds of contacts with friends, colleagues and family.

The four persons who took part in physical training with him in Tongi later just vanished. Four other persons joined in. With them, Suman trained to use pistol and machete before taking part in the killing mission.

After coming to Tongi, his communications with the group in Chittagong got snapped. His contact discontinued also with those who took part in training with him in Tongi. 

Those who participated in the killing mission no longer contacted one another.

That means they tried to ensure that one arrest doesn't lead to another.  

Suman came in contact with militants in January last year and went to kill someone in October. It took only 10 months to turn this religious minded young man into a militant killer.

His confessional statement gives names of 19 militants. Detectives believe that the person named Ishtiaq is the military commander of Ansar Al Islam, Major (terminated) Zia. He was sacked from Bangladesh Army in 2012 for attempting to stage a coup.

WHAT NOW?

Now behind bars, Suman may be found guilty based on his confession. He is charged in an attempted murder case. As per the law, he might get life term as punishment. But will anyone examine exactly why he got attracted to militancy? What were the social and psychological issues involved? Will there be any thorough study?  

When Suman will come out of jail after serving his full term, he would be maximum 40. At that age, what would Suman do? He will not receive any counselling at the jail. Will the state take the responsibility of rehabilitating him? We see no such initiative. Or is there any chance that he would become involved in jihad once again?