6 Bangladesh nationals held in TN after intelligence tip-off on terror links

Six Bangladeshi nationals were arrested by the Delhi Police from Tiruppur district in Tamil Nadu in connection with an alleged terror conspiracy linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Bangladesh-based extremist organisations, official sources said on Sunday.

The arrests were made on Saturday following specific intelligence inputs received by central agencies. The suspects were booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, sources said. Local police provided logistical support before the accused were taken to New Delhi by the Delhi Police for further interrogation.

A senior police official said the six men were operating from Tiruppur, a major textile hub with a large migrant workforce, where they had allegedly blended in as daily-wage labourers in garment and industrial units to avoid detection.

Preliminary investigations suggest the accused had entered India illegally, possibly through the India-Bangladesh border with the help of facilitators. Authorities are probing whether forged identity documents were used and how long they had been staying in Tamil Nadu.

Security agencies reportedly received a tip-off about suspected extremist operatives working in Tiruppur. The men were placed under surveillance after their movements and communication patterns raised suspicion. Based on this intelligence, a coordinated operation was carried out, leading to their arrest. Officials have not confirmed the recovery of any explosives or weapons from the accused, citing the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Delhi Police.

A senior government official said Tiruppur has the highest number of registered migrant workers in Tamil Nadu, with around 2.2 lakh enrolled on the state labour portal. “Employers are required to verify workers’ identity. Monitoring and verification will be strengthened following this incident,” the official said.

The arrests sparked political reactions, with opposition parties targeting the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government over law and order.

Union Minister L Murugan questioned why the arrests were made by a central agency, while AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami raised concerns about the role of the state’s Anti-Terrorism Squad. AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran termed the incident a failure of public safety. Authorities have not disclosed details of the alleged plot or intended targets, citing an ongoing investigation into the suspects’ networks, funding and local contacts.