The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Friday arrested eight people, including seven from Gujarat and one from Madhya Pradesh, for allegedly plotting to establish a network of the banned terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and carry out terrorist activities in the state, officials said.
According to an official statement issued by the Gujarat ATS, the accused were allegedly working to build an active Jaish-e-Mohammed network in Gujarat by recruiting new members and spreading the organisation’s ideology. Investigators claimed they had been contacting individuals across the country through various platforms to radicalise them, conduct Dawat (inviting people to join the outfit), and expand the terror group’s presence in the state.
The ATS further alleged that the accused had formed an organisation called “Darul Islam Gujarat Jaish-e-Mohammed” as part of the conspiracy. Officials claimed they were in regular contact with Pakistan-based handlers identified as Abdullah and Mohammad Umar, translated Jaish-e-Mohammed literature from Urdu into Gujarati to widen its reach, and were actively involved in plans to carry out terrorist activities in Gujarat.
Investigators also alleged that the group received around ₹3 lakh to further the conspiracy. A portion of the money was reportedly used to purchase a second-hand car that was never officially transferred into the accused’s names.
During searches conducted as part of the investigation, the ATS claimed to have recovered 254 digital files from an encrypted application installed on one of the accused’s mobile phones. These reportedly included jihadi literature, speeches, audio and video recordings, photographs and a Jaish-e-Mohammed flag.
Officials also said they seized two books authored by JeM chief Masood Azhar that were printed in Pakistan, eight Urdu letters allegedly addressed to Azhar seeking membership of the banned outfit, photographs of handwritten Urdu documents, and Gujarati translations of JeM literature that investigators claim were prepared by two of the accused.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Ahmad Abdullah Gajivala alias Abu Ubaida (19) and Ibrahim Mohammad Husain Ghagha alias Abu Hamza (30), both residents of Nandasan in Mehsana district. Mudassir Abdullah Gajivala alias Abu Aya (22) is from Bhagal in Palanpur, Banaskantha.
The remaining Gujarat-based accused include Zakariya Durani Mohammad Ammar Ghagha alias Ibn Ammar alias Zakariya Palanpuri (21), Mufti Faujan Ismail Dauva alias Mufti Saab (40), and Mohammad Amin Shera alias Amin Palanpuri (21), all associated with Jamia Abul Hasan Madrasa in Khadiyasana, Siddhpur, Patan. Mohammad Abdul Rehman Savdi alias Mohammad Palanpuri alias Abu Unesa (22) is linked to Jamia Rahmaniya Khambhiya in Ambheta, Chikhli, Navsari.
The eighth accused, Bilal Durani Mohammad Ammar Ghagha alias Abu Dujana alias Abu Sufiyan alias Abu Jundal alias Umarbin Khatab (18), is a resident of Dewas in Madhya Pradesh.
A case has been registered against all eight accused under multiple provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), including Sections 13 (unlawful activities), 17 (raising funds for terrorist acts), 18 (conspiracy to commit terrorist acts), 38 (membership of a terrorist organisation), and 39 (support to a terrorist organisation). They have also been booked under Sections 61 (criminal conspiracy) and 148 (concealing the design to commit certain offences) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
