Author: Pranava K Chaudhary
Publication: The Times of India
Date: April 14, 2007
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1907582.cms
An unspecified number of CDs, containing Al
Qaida leader Osama bin Laden's exhortations to Muslims to wage "jehad"(holy
war), surfaced in the remote areas of Bihar's Bhojpur district on Friday.
Sources said that the 90-minute CDs in Arabic
language with English sub-titles have the footage of Al-Qaida and Taliban
camps, where militants are shown receiving training in guerrilla warfare.
However, the Bhojpur police are tightlipped
over the contents of the CDs. Speaking to TOI over phone, Bhojpur SP Umesh
Kumar said: "I have received information in this regard but it would
not be appropriate on our part to divulge details at this juncture."
He also refused to disclose the locations
from where the CDs were recovered. However, the sources claimed that the CDs
surfaced in the remote areas of Bhagalpur Milki, Piro, Jagdishpur and Koelwar
villages of Bhojpur district. It is yet to be ascertained how these CDs made
their way to the said villages, they added.
According to the sources, the intelligence
agencies are trying to identify the linkman involved in the distribution of
the CDs.
Meanwhile, the state government has taken
a serious note of the issue. Home commissioner Afzal Amanullah told TOI over
phone from New Delhi that the state government will engage experts to analyse
the contents of the CDs and establish their authenticity.
"People should refrain themselves from indulging in such foolish propaganda,"
Amanullah said, adding: "Anybody found trying to tear apart the social
fabric of society will not spared."
Facts apart, Bihar's links with terror outfits
cannot be ruled out. Only last year, two suspects of Mumbai train blasts -
Kamal Ansari and Khalid - were arrested from a remote village of Madhubani
district.
(With inputs from Sunil Singh in Ara)
