Gujarat ATS Dismantles Terror Module, Arrests Five Suspected JeM Operatives
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested five individuals in connection with a suspected terror module linked to the Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). The arrests were made from Khadiyal village in Siddhpur taluka, expanding the ongoing crackdown on extremist networks.
The suspects have been identified as Bilal Abidbhai Shera, Mohammad Ayub Kadiwala (also known as Mohammed Khadiyasan), Mohammad Palanpuri (alias Khali Ayub Sunsara), Shafia Rais Mukhti (alias Shafi Chapi), and Mohammad Hasan Kardia (alias Hasan Haidarpuri). Officials said the five were taken into custody on Friday following intelligence inputs about their involvement in planning subversive activities.
According to the ATS, the arrests are part of a larger investigation into a JeM-backed module that was allegedly plotting attacks in Gujarat and other parts of India. The agency has not disclosed specific details about the nature of the planned operations, citing the sensitivity of the ongoing probe.
This is not the first time the Gujarat ATS has acted against JeM suspects. In previous months, the agency had arrested several individuals with alleged links to the group. The latest arrests come amid heightened vigilance by security forces across the country.
The five accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). They will be produced before a court in the coming days for remand proceedings. Legal experts note that the UAPA allows for extended detention and stringent bail conditions for those accused of terrorist activities.
Local authorities have urged residents to remain alert and report any suspicious activity. The ATS has assured that the investigation is progressing and that further arrests cannot be ruled out as the network is unravelled.
The arrests have once again highlighted the persistent threat of cross-border terrorism and the challenges faced by law enforcement in countering radicalisation. While the government has praised the ATS for its swift action, human rights activists have called for transparency and due process in the handling of the case.
