Gujarat ATS arrests terror suspect from MP:Officials claim he worked with Pakistan handlers; Jaish network under investigation

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested a suspicious youth from Dewas, Madhya Pradesh. The youth has been identified as Bilal Durani Mohammad Ammar Ghagha alias Abu Dujana (18). Gujarat ATS claims that he is a member of the module associated with the banned terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), against which a total of 8 accused have been arrested in a joint operation in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. On Thursday night, the Gujarat ATS team reached Gafoor Basti in the Nahar Darwaza area of Dewas. In the presence of local police, the team interrogated Bilal’s family at his home for about half an hour. After this, the youth was taken into custody and handed over to Gujarat ATS through Dewas Police. Dewas SP confirms arrest Dewas Superintendent of Police Puneet Gehlod confirmed the arrest, stating that Gujarat ATS had come in search of a suspect. As per rules, the youth has been handed over to Gujarat ATS. Further investigation into the matter is being conducted by Gujarat ATS. ATS took action simultaneously in five states According to Gujarat ATS, confidential information was received that some people were propagating the ideology of the banned terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed and were involved in a conspiracy to establish its network in Gujarat. After technical and human intelligence investigation, action was taken simultaneously in five states/districts. A total of 8 accused were taken into custody from Banaskantha, Mehsana, Patan, Navsari in Gujarat and Dewas in Madhya Pradesh. ATS claims that the accused had formed an organisation named “Darul Islam Gujarat Jaish-e-Mohammed” and were trying to recruit new members. Allegations of contact with Pakistan and funding According to the investigating agency, evidence of contact between the arrested accused and Pakistan-based handlers Abdullah and Mohammad Umar has been found. It is alleged that the module received funding of about 3 lakh rupees, which was used to buy an old car. The accused are also accused of spreading radical ideology by translating Jaish literature into Gujarati. Claim of finding several pieces of evidence, including mobile and literature According to ATS, during the raid, 254 jihadi documents, audio-videos, photos, and a Jaish-e-Mohammed flag were found on one accused’s mobile phone. Additionally, books by Masood Azhar, letters written in Urdu, and jihadi literature translated into Gujarati have also been recovered. Based on this evidence, a case has been registered against all 8 accused under various sections of UAPA and sections 61 and 148 of BNS, and further action is being taken.