Gujarat ATS Arrests Four Suspected AQIS Operatives in Counterterrorism Operation
In a significant counterterrorism effort, Gujarat's Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) apprehended four individuals in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, allegedly linked to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), a proscribed terrorist organization.
According to the ATS, the arrests were made following intelligence reports, pointing to the suspects' involvement in a larger network aiming to increase AQIS's presence in India. Further details regarding the plot and the suspects' identities are anticipated to be released later.
This development occurs amid escalating worries about radicalization and terror recruitment across various Indian states. In August 2024, a major AQIS-inspired terror module was dismantled in an operation spearheaded by the Delhi Police, working alongside security agencies in Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. This operation resulted in the arrest of 14 people who were reportedly planning significant terrorist attacks.
The Delhi Police reported that the module was under the leadership of Dr. Ishtiyaq from Ranchi, Jharkhand. The group was allegedly preparing to declare a "Khilafat" and was involved in advanced weapons training and extremist indoctrination. Six individuals were caught during a weapons training session in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, while the remaining eight were arrested in Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. Authorities also seized weapons, ammunition, and radical literature during the raids.
The Gujarat ATS is currently investigating whether the suspects arrested are linked to or inspired by the same ideological network disrupted last year. Security agencies are likely to enhance their vigilance in key states following these recent arrests.
