Guj ATS arrests 4 for links to Qaida module
The accused were reportedly engaged in spreading extremist propaganda and attempting to radicalise youth through social media.
According to Gujarat ATS officials, two accused are residents of Gujarat, while two are from outside the state. The arrested were identified as Mohd Faiq Mohd Rizwan, a resident of Faraskhana, Delhi, Mohd Fardeen Mohd Raees (Fatehwadi, Ahmedabad), Sefullah Kureshi (Bhoi Wada, Modasa) and Zeeshan Ali Asif Ali (Chhajrasi Colony, Sector 63, Noida).
All four are aged between 20 and 25 years.
The ATS said in a statement, "A terror module affiliated with AQIS has been busted. Four persons linked to the proscribed outfit have been arrested. They were actively involved in online activities related to jihadi propaganda."
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Investigators stated that the accused were using Instagram and other social media platforms, along with certain suspicious mobile applications, to circulate inflammatory videos, extremist fatwas and calls for armed rebellion under the banner of Ghazwa-e-Hind.
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Their content reportedly included messages targeting the Indian state, members of the Hindu community and institutions of democratic governance.
The complaint submitted by the Gujarat ATS mentions that the accused intended to radicalise vulnerable youth, create communal unrest and promote terrorist agendas under the guise of establishing an Islamic Khilafat. The systematic digital campaign, according to officials, points to a premeditated criminal conspiracy to incite violence and undermine national integrity.
Incriminating material such as jihadi literature, online communication with suspected handlers and digital content supporting secessionist and anti-national ideologies were recovered during the initial investigation, the complaint stated.
The ATS has booked the accused under Sections 13, 18, 38, and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act along with Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 113 (terrorist act), 152 (act endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India), 196 (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 61 (criminal conspiracy).
The agency is also probing their online network, including unidentified digital collaborators believed to be involved in similar activities. Notably, in 2023, the Gujarat ATS arrested four Bangladeshi nationals from different parts of the state for alleged ties to AQIS. The agency believes the current arrests may be part of a wider network aimed at promoting terrorism across India. Interrogation is ongoing.
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