Statewide Alert in Bihar After JeM Terror Infiltration Through Nepal Border

Image: Jihad Watch

Bihar has been placed on high alert after intelligence agencies reported that three suspected jihadist operatives linked to the Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) infiltrated India through the porous Indo-Nepal border. Security forces have launched an extensive manhunt, releasing sketches of the suspects and intensifying surveillance across the state.

Infiltration and Intelligence Warning

On the night of Wednesday, August 27, central intelligence agencies tipped off the Bihar Police that three JeM operatives—identified as Hasnain Ali, Adil Hussain, and Mohammad Usman—had slipped into Indian territory via Nepal. The open Indo-Nepal border, stretching over 700 kilometers and largely unguarded, has long been considered a vulnerable entry point for terror operatives, arms smugglers, and counterfeit currency networks.

Security Measures and Search Operations

In response, the Bihar Police circulated sketches, photographs, and passport details of the suspects to district units, railway stations, bus depots, and other public areas. Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, and border districts—regions with heavy cross-border movement—are under particular scrutiny. Security personnel have been instructed to step up checks at hotels, lodges, transport hubs, and religious sites. Random vehicle inspections have also been intensified on national highways and inter-district routes to prevent the suspects from moving freely.

Involvement of Central Agencies

Both the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) are monitoring the situation closely. While official sources have not confirmed the exact target, intelligence inputs suggest that the operatives may have been planning a major strike in Bihar. Given the approaching festive season, the threat level has been escalated, with police urging citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious persons or activities immediately.

Nepal’s Growing Terror Vulnerability

The infiltration has once again highlighted the Nepal route as a favored corridor for jihadist groups. For years, agencies have flagged the country’s weak border control, increasing madrasa infrastructure, and emerging radical influences as key risks. Though Nepal itself has not witnessed large-scale Islamist terror attacks, experts warn that its geography and demographic changes make it increasingly vulnerable.

Recent developments underscore these concerns. In 2024, Interpol’s National Central Bureau in Singapore raised alarm over links between a senior Nepal Police officer and suspected ISIS financiers. Though the officer’s involvement is still under investigation, the case revealed how jihadist financing networks may be penetrating Nepal’s security institutions.

Scholars have also pointed to the rapid growth of Islamic institutions. Between 2011 and 2021, Nepal’s Muslim population rose from 4.39% to 5.09%, making it the fastest-growing religious group in the country. Alongside this demographic rise, the number of mosques and madrasas has surged, particularly in the Terai belt bordering India. Official data notes approximately 1,409 mosques and nearly 4,000 madrasas across Nepal by mid-2025, though only about 900 are state-registered. Many of the unregistered institutions reportedly operate with minimal oversight, raising concerns about extremist indoctrination.

Regional and Cross-Border Implications

Regional analysts stress that instability in Nepal directly impacts India. During a seminar hosted by the Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE) earlier in 2025, former Nepalese Defense Minister Dr. Minendra Rijal warned that any terror strike in India would inevitably have spillover effects on Nepal. His remarks followed the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians—including a Nepali citizen—underscoring the transnational nature of jihadist threats.

The situation has reignited debates on the need for stronger cross-border intelligence sharing, joint surveillance, and tighter monitoring of religious institutions in border regions. Experts argue that while Nepal’s internal radicalization risk remains limited, external jihadist groups—such as JeM and ISIS—could exploit its open border to destabilize both Nepal and India.

Conclusion

The infiltration alert in Bihar serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities along India’s northern frontier. With sketches of the suspects already in public circulation and extensive monitoring underway, security agencies are racing to neutralize any potential threat. However, the incident also sheds light on the broader regional challenge—Nepal’s evolving religious landscape, porous border, and potential extremist networks—that could be leveraged by jihadist organizations.

For India, safeguarding its borders will require not only domestic vigilance but also deeper cooperation with Nepal to ensure that such infiltration attempts are detected and dismantled before they materialize into devastating attacks.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)