Ahmedabad19 hours agoAuthor: Aziz Cutleriwala
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested five more alleged operatives linked to the Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed, raising the total number of arrests in the case to 13.
The accused were apprehended from different districts across Gujarat after fresh leads emerged during the investigation into the eight suspects arrested earlier.
The case was registered on 2 July under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Terrorists preparing bomb
According to Sunil Joshi, DIG, Gujarat ATS, some of the accused had been staying at Jamia Abul Hasan Madrasa in Patan district since 2023, where they allegedly studied bomb-making techniques, IED detonation mechanisms and circulated extremist literature, including the publication ‘Akela Mujahid Jihad Kaise Kare’.
ATS further claimed that the accused procured raw materials for explosives through online platforms and local markets and conducted multiple experiments involving explosive timer mechanisms between 2023 and February 2026. Materials allegedly used for preparing an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) were also recovered during the investigation.
The experiments was overseen by Amin Shera, who, with other few accomplices, sourced potassium nitrate, sulphur, and charcoal from local market and online platforms.
They conducted 8 small-scale blasts in a spanof to years to learn the proximity, scale, and magnitude of the blast.
The blasts were conducted near a secluded area of their village. They employed timers, detonators, conducted experiments with size of the pipe, its pressure, and welded them in different moulds.
Radical elements apprehended
DIG Joshi added that investigations and interrogations are carried out in this case with 2-3 teams, headed by DySPs Harsh Upadhyay and SL Chaudhary.
The five newly arrested accused, all aged between 20 and 24, were allegedly involved in distributing jihadi content, conducting recruitment sessions and participating in IED training and trial blasts, ATS claimed. They were arrested on July 15 and have been remanded to eight days of police custody for further investigation.
ATS has nabbed Bilal from Ahmedabad, while one was held from Saharanpur (UP), another from Kadiyasan, two from Bharuch, and one from Navsari.
The accused were produced in court yesterday, and an eight day remand was obtained.
DIG Joshi explained that the accused conducted the experiments on their own, and sourced funding on their own.
Arrested individuals
JeM module busted in Gujarat
ATS had received intelligence about individuals allegedly working to spread the ideology of the banned terror outfit and build an active network in Gujarat.
The ATS said its investigation, as it was previously uncovered, an alleged efforts by the accused to recruit individuals, propagate extremist ideology and prepare for terrorist activities.
During searches, officials recovered a Jaish-e-Mohammed flag, printed literature authored by JeM chief Masood Azhar, a letter addressed to him and ₹1.3 lakh in cash suspected to be linked to terror funding.
July 3: ATS arrests eight Jaish-e-Mohammed operatives
On July 3, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) conducted a major operation across Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, arresting eight alleged operatives linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Acting on intelligence inputs that the group was working to expand the Pakistan-based terror outfit’s network in Gujarat, the ATS formed five teams and carried out coordinated raids.
The eight accused were arrested from Banaskantha, Mehsana, Navsari and Patan in Gujarat, along with Dewas in Madhya Pradesh. During their interrogation, investigators uncovered the names of five more suspects, who were arrested on July 16. Read more
