11 held in NE in connection with 7/11

Agartala: The terror link is spreading its wings to the north-east.

Central Intelligence sources have told CNN-IBN that 11 people have been detained on the Indo-Bangladesh border in Tripura in connection with the 7/11 blasts.

All 11 hailed from Thane, Maharashtra and have links with SIMI and the Tablighi Jamaiat and are being interrogated by Central intelligence agencies.

The police are also exploring possibilities of these men's connections with sleeper terrorist cells.

A 12th member managed to escape from the area.

Also under the scanner are some locals who gave these men shelter to keep the authorities from detecting them.

The youths entered Tripura through Guwahati and their leader is an ex-Microsoft employee.

Lately there has been a lot of concern over the porous Indo-Bangladesh border, which is largely unguarded and therefore easier to access.

Police suspect that religious extremist groups could be using the border to infiltrate the country and spread terror.

Police also on a look out for another group from Gujarat reported to be near the Indo-Bangladesh border in north east.

(With inputs from Deborshi Chaki)