Latest news with #Anti-TerrorSquad
Mint
2 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Asaduddin Owaisi on 7/11 acquittals: Will Govt punish ATS for jailing innocents for 18 years? – ‘prime life is gone'
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on July 21 asked whether the government would take action against officers of Maharashtra ATS (Anti-Terror Squad) who investigated the 7/11 Mumbai train blasts case of 2006 after the Bombay High Court acquitted all 12 accused in the case. The Bombay High Court's judgement came nearly a decade after a special court awarded the convicts capital punishment and life sentences. '12 Muslim men were in Jail for 18 years for a crime they didn't commit. Their prime life is gone. 180 families who lost their loved ones, several injured no closure for them. Will the government take action against officers of Maharashtra ATS who investigated this case ?' the Hyderabad MP asked in a post on X. A bench of Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Shyam Chandak observed that 'the prosecution has utterly failed in establishing the case beyond reasonable doubts,' legal news website Bar and Bench reported. The court found the statements of nearly all prosecution witnesses unreliable. The court reportedly said there was no reason for taxi drivers or people inside to remember the accused after almost 100 days of the blast. 'Innocent people are sent to jail, and then, years later, when they are released from jail, there is no possibility for reconstruction of their lives. For last 17 years, these accused are in jail. They haven't stepped out even for a day. The majority of their prime life is gone. In such cases where there is a public outcry, the approach by police is always to first assume guilt and then go from there,' Owaisi said in the post. On the evening of July 11, 2006, bomb blasts took place at seven different places in the Mumbai local trains within just 11 minutes. In the incident, 189 people lost their lives in blasts, while more than 827 passengers were injured. The bombs were placed in first-class compartments of trains from Churchgate. They exploded near the stations of Matunga Road, Mahim Junction, Bandra, Khar, Jogeshwari, Bhayandar and Borivali. A trial court in 2015 convicted 12 people in the blasts case.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- The Hindu
U.P. police busts illegal religious conversion racket, arrest 10 accused
Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday (July 19, 2025) said it arrested 10 individuals from six States involved in a large-scale illegal religious conversion racket. The arrests were made from Rajasthan, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Goa apart from U.P. 'The probe began in Agra in March after two sisters aged 18 and 33 were reported missing. Investigations revealed that they were allegedly coerced into religious conversion and were undergoing radicalization. One of the sisters had also put a picture of a girl holding an AK 47 rifle as her profile picture on a social media platform. Preliminary investigations found that the sisters were targeted by a gang involved in 'love jihad' and radicalization,' said Agra Commissioner of Police Deepak Kumar. He added evidence of the racket receiving funding originating from America and Canada is also noticed during investigation,'. 'The arrested individuals activities included receiving illicit funds, providing safe houses for covert operations, offering legal advice, and providing other forms of assistance to facilitate the conversions and radicalization,' added the police. In light of multi State and transnational imprints of the racket dedicated units of the State police, including the Special Task Force (STF) and the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS), are deployed to assist with the ongoing investigation. 'This action is part of 'Mission Asmita', an ongoing initiative aimed at dismantling such illicit syndicates,' added the U.P. police. Mission Asmita, is a dedicate initiative of U.P. police to take on criminals involved in serious offenses such as illegal conversions, radicalization, love jihad and deliberate attempts to undermine national security with the help of transnational network.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Time of India
‘Revival' plan lands 3 fugitives in jail
Chennai: Attempts to re-establish contact with their prospective aides in Tamil Nadu proved to be the undoing of three fugitives who were linked to multiple terror-related cases across TN, Karnataka and Kerala, and were on the run for almost three decades. And the state police's continued intel gathering paid off when the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) in two carefully coordinated operations in Kartnataka and Andhra Pradesh between June 30 and July 10, finally nabbed the trio. For nearly 30 years, they blended into small-town life under borrowed names. The suspects, originally identified as Tailor Raja, Abu Backer Siddique, and Mohammad Ali, were living under the aliases Shajahan (Vijayapura, Karnataka), Amanullah, and Mansoor (Rayachoti, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh). ATS officers said they were involved in a series of high-profile crimes, including parcel bombings, coordinated blasts, and targeted killings in the late 1990s and early 2000s. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai Police said the arrests followed specific intelligence that the suspects re-established contact with individuals in TN to revive dormant sleeper cells. An ATS officer said, "The breakthrough came when Siddique, facing severe health issues, attempted to rally a new faction and reignite fundamentalist activities." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Has Toyota Done It Again? The New RAV4 Is Finally Here (Take A Peek) FrequentSearches | Search Ads Learn More Undo Police, who seized material used to make improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from the suspects' premises, said they maintained a low profile in towns where they were unknown and misled contacts in TN into believing they were hiding in Mumbai. Siddique and Ali were arrested in Kadapa on June 30, while Raja was arrested in Vijayapura on July 10. ATS sleuths tracked them for more than three months, maintaining undercover surveillance where they lived. Siddique, once employed in the UAE, possessed 18 mobile phones, including old models dating back two decades. Siddique and Ali, allegedly involved in the 1995 parcel bomb murder of Thangam Muthukrishnan in Nagapattinam and a foiled parcel bomb attempt in Nagore, were also linked to the 1995 Hindu Munnani office blast in Chennai's Chintadripet, the 1999 serial blasts in Chennai, Trichy, and Coimbatore, the 2011 pipe bomb targeting former Deputy PM L K Advani, and a 2012 murder in Vellore. Mohammad Ali, identified as one of those behind the 1999 bombing of old Chennai police commissioner's office, was also implicated in the 2013 blast near the BJP office in Malleswaram, Bengaluru. All three were linked to extremists such as S Fakruddin, Panna Ismail and Bilal Malik. Tailor Raja, associated with Al-Umma and named in the 1998 Coimbatore serial blasts, moved to Vijayapura, worked as a tailor and later established a vegetable wholesale business. At a press conference on Friday, DGP Shankar Jiwal praised the ATS team and said, "I cannot disclose the operational details or the names of officers involved at this stage." They are expected to be formally charged under multiple provisions of IPC and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
50,000 security personnel, anti-drone systems deployed for Kanwar Yatra in UP
The Uttar Pradesh government has deployed more than 50,000 security personnel, advanced surveillance system and anti-drone and tethered-drone technologies to detect any threat along the Kanwar Yatra route, and set up a centralised control room for round-the-clock real-time monitoring of the pilgrimage, officials said. Such an elaborate security bandobast, made on the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, was earlier put in place only during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj earlier this year and the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya in January 2024. Also, nearly 29,500 CCTV cameras have been installed along the key routes and major congregation points to enhance vigilance, it is learnt. The security personnel on the ground are drawn from the Pradeshik Armed Constabulary (PAC), Anti-Terror Squad (ATS), Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Quick Response Team (QRT) among others. They include 39,965 male constables, 8,541 women constables, 1,424 home guards, 587 gazetted officers, 2,040 male inspectors, 1,486 women sub-inspectors and 13,520 sub-inspectors. CM Adityanath reviewed the preparations and issued instructions to ensure arrangements for security, healthcare, sanitation, drinking water and traffic management. As many as 395 high-tech drones, including anti-drone systems and tethered drones, are transmitting real-time video feeds directly to the police headquarters in Lucknow. Tethered drones, which hover in a fixed position for extended periods, are proving particularly effective in monitoring dense crowds and enabling quick response in case of emergencies, the officials said. The control room has been established at the DGP office on the lines of the Maha Kumbh Mela. An eight-member social media surveillance team is also at work to continuously monitor online platforms for rumours, misleading information and sensitive posts. The team's mandate includes promptly alerting the district officials and ensuring swift removal of objectionable online content. A separate control room team monitors inputs from electronic media, UP-112 helpline, and other channels to ensure seamless coordination and prompt response. Details such as police officers' contact numbers, traffic diversion plans, and all Kanwar Yatra-related guidelines have been shared with the public through hoardings, newspapers, and social media. For effective interstate coordination, a dedicated WhatsApp group comprising officials from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan has been created. This group facilitates an exchange of real-time information on route conditions, security updates, and crowd management plans. The anti-drone systems detect unauthorised drones by using radar, sensors, and other advanced technologies. Once detected, these systems disrupt the drone's communication link through jamming, rendering it inoperable or physically destroying the drone using lasers or missiles. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed indigenous solutions like the D4S system which is capable of tracking, intercepting, and neutralising hostile drones with high precision, the officials added. Tethered drones are connected to a ground-based power source via a cable, allowing them to remain airborne for extended durations without battery limitations. The tether also provides greater stability in windy conditions for continuous surveillance and communication in sensitive areas.
New Indian Express
11-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Arrested terror suspects picked up after months-long operations: Tamil Nadu DGP Shankar Jiwal
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP) Shankar Jiwal on Friday announced the arrest of three long-wanted terror suspects in a coordinated multi-state operation led by the state Anti-Terror Squad (ATS). Abubacker Siddique, Mohammed Ali, and Sadiq alias Tailor Raja — all wanted in connection with the 1998 Coimbatore serial bomb blasts and the 2013 Malleswaram blast in Bengaluru — were apprehended after nearly three decades in hiding. The Coimbatore blasts had claimed 58 lives and injured over 250. Addressing a press conference, Jiwal said the arrests were made as part of operations 'Aram' and 'Agazhi', which were carried out in coordination with the police forces of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka over the past six months. Siddique and Ali were picked up from Andhra Pradesh's Kadappa district, while Sadiq was nabbed from Vijayapura in Karnataka. 'The ATS has done very professional and successful operations. The investigation is ongoing,' Jiwal said. According to police, the suspects had blended into local communities by taking up professions such as running grocery stores, tailoring, and real estate dealing. Their identities, despite decades of evasion, were confirmed within 24 hours using 'certain parameters,' the DGP said. While Siddique and Ali are not currently linked to any banned organisations, Sadiq is believed to be associated with the proscribed outfit Al-Umma. Authorities are also probing whether the trio had travelled abroad during their time underground.
