Kolkata: The arrest of Ashraful Mallick, a 25-year-old from Baduria in North 24 Parganas, from Bengaluru over alleged links with terrorist activities has shocked his native village, where family and neighbours have strongly denied the charges, describing him as a meritorious and disciplined young man.Mallick, a resident of Noapara under Jaduhati Uttar gram panchayat, was arrested on Friday by Bengaluru police and central investigating agencies. He had been working as a security guard at a company in the Jigani area and living in rented accommodation at Hebbagodi.Investigators alleged he was in contact with a Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan member named Imran Ahindar, based in Afghanistan, through social media, and was allegedly plotting attacks on Pakistan’s military and in India.His mobile phone was seized and documents reportedly recovered. During interrogation, he allegedly admitted to being angered by attacks on mosques and civilians in Pakistan and alleged atrocities by the Pakistani military, and was reportedly being provoked to retaliate if Muslims in India faced threats.His family rejected the allegations entirely. “My son is extremely meritorious and was a good boy. He has never been involved in any such illegal activities,” said his mother Firoza Bibi. His brother Mokshed Hossain Mallick said: “He is innocent and always focused on building his professional career. He has been falsely implicated.”According to neighbours, Mallick had graduated from Gobardanga College and spent time preparing for govt job examinations before leaving for Bengaluru about a year and a half ago after failing to secure a position. He had not returned home since.The arrest has again brought Baduria — a border area adjoining Bangladesh — into focus. College student Tania Khatun from nearby Malaypur was arrested a few years ago on allegations of terrorism-related activities, including channelling foreign funds into India, radicalising youth and maintaining links with Lashkar-e-Taiba. She remains in jail.
