Mizo group suspects Qaeda links

Aizawl, Apr 11: A newly formed Joint Action Committee on Illegal Traders (JACIT) has suspected the presence of Al-Qaeda elements and their supporters in Mizoram. Majority of such traders in the state are Bangladeshi nationals and are suspected to have links with Al-Qaeda, JACIT members claimed.

'' They are posing huge threat to the state as well as to the enitre North East region. Even the Centre has expressed concern over this and deployed army in the region,'' JACIT chairman Lalchhuanawma told UNI.

However, the Army intelligence officials told UNI that the state is free of the extrimist group and ruled out the possibility of the presence of Bangladeshi immigrants.

JACIT, a Mizo vigilant group of eight organisations, formed in November 2006 had so far conducted three ''Hnam Hnatlang'' (operations to pick out illegal traders) and have unearthed a large number of fake trading permits in the state.

Earlier, the JACIT had warned the 'illegal' traders to leave the state before the end of March failing which they would face dire consequences.

They had also warned the Mizo 'benamis', who were lending their names to outsiders to run business in the state.

According to sources a Mizo earns between Rs 3000 to Rs 10000 per month just by lending his name to a non-Mizo trader so that he could get a license

UNI