The NIA investigators are trying to establish the number of modules the JMB terrorist established. (Photo used for representataion)

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) sleuths had a few months ago nabbed a top Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen (JMB) terrorist, Habibur Rehman Sheikh, from the industrial hub of Dodabalpur in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Habibur Rehman Sheikh is one of the key accused in the 2014 Khagragarh blast. During the interrogation, the JMB terrorist revealed some startling facts. Sheikh has revealed that he was in the process of setting up of a north Bengal-based terror module.

The actual sites were in areas bordering Assam, he revealed. The NIA investigators are trying to establish the number of modules he established or were in the process and the probable recruits.

Habibur was reportedly looking after the organisational work of the JBM in India. He initially shifted base to Tamil Nadu and worked on setting up modules there. While he was in southern India, Sheikh's wife was working for the terror organisation in Assam.

Habibur Rehman Sheikh later started working with her to set up sleeper cells in the eastern and north-eastern states.

Sources said that Habibur Rehman Sheikh sought the help of one Anwar to move to Assam. Anwar provided him with shelter and logistical support.

Once in Assam, Sheikh travelled extensively, scouting and recruiting. He later managed to enter Meghalaya and the modus operandi there was similar, too. He was basically scouting for Bengali-speaking youths who could be "sleeping assets" of the JMB in north-eastern India.

At the same time efforts were made to resurrect the JMB in West Bengal. Due to a heightened vigil in Murshidabad, Malda and Birbhum, the JBM chose northernmost districts to make a stronghold.

It was relatively easier to travel undetected to the entire north-east and even slipping into Bangladesh. The officials suspect that he was able to set up a few modules in these two border districts.

The interrogation has revealed that Habibur Rehman Sheikh used to target youths from poor and underprivileged backgrounds. He used to indoctrinate them and teach them advanced bomb-making techniques.