Gujarat police arrests 8 Jaish operatives, foils plan to set up terror network

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested eight alleged members of the banned terror organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) for allegedly working to establish an active terror network in Gujarat to further the outfit's activities.

According to the Gujarat ATS, the accused had been actively working on behalf of the Pakistan-based terror organisation for the last six months and were attempting to create an operational network in the state. Officials said the arrests were made before the group could execute any major terror plot.

Seven of the accused were arrested from different districts of Gujarat, while one was apprehended from neighbouring Madhya Pradesh. The ATS arrested three accused from Banaskantha, three from Patan, one from Navsari and one from Dewas in Madhya Pradesh.

The arrested accused have been identified as:

• Ahmed Abdullah Gajiwala alias Abu Ubaida (19), resident of Bhagal, Palanpur, Banaskantha.
• Ibrahim Mohammad Husen Ghagha alias Abu Hamza (30), resident of Bhagal, Palanpur, Banaskantha.
• Mudassir Abdullah Ghaziwala alias Abu Aya (22), resident of Bhagal, Palanpur, Banaskantha.
• Zakariya Durani Mohammad Ammar Ghagha alias Ibn Ammar alias Zakariya Palanpuri (21), resident of Jamia Abul Hasan Madrasa, Khadiyasana, Siddhpur, Patan.
• Mufti Faujan Ismail Dauwa alias Mufti Sahab (40), associated with Jamia Abul Hasan Madrasa, Khadiyasana, Siddhpur, Patan.
• Mohammad Amin Shera alias Amin Palanpuri (21), associated with Jamia Abul Hasan Madrasa, Khadiyasana, Siddhpur, Patan.
• Mohammad Abdul Rahman Savdi alias Mohammad Palanpuri alias Abu Unisa (22), associated with Jamia Rahmaniya Khambhiya, Ambheta, Chikhli, Navsari.
• Bilal Durani Mohammad Ammar Ghagha alias Abu Dujana alias Abu Sufiyan alias Abu Zundal alias Umar bin Khattab (18), resident of Warsi Nagar, Dewas, Madhya Pradesh.

The ATS registered a case against all eight accused at the ATS Police Station.

The case has been filed under Sections 13 (punishment for unlawful activities), 17 (punishment for raising funds for terrorist acts), 18 (punishment for conspiracy), 38 (offence relating to membership of a terrorist organisation) and 39 (offence relating to support given to a terrorist organisation) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

The police also invoked Sections 148 and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. According to ATS officials, Section 148 pertains to conspiracy to commit offences punishable under Section 145 of the BNS, while Section 61 deals with criminal conspiracy. Officials added that Section 147 of the BNS relates to waging war, attempting to wage war or abetting the waging of war against the Government of India.

The Gujarat ATS said the accused were working on behalf of Jaish-e-Mohammed to expand the banned organisation's activities by establishing an active network in Gujarat. The investigation is underway.

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