8 Jaish Operatives Were Building Terror Network, Translating Extremist Literature into Gujarati: ATS

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Friday claimed to have dismantled an alleged module linked to the banned terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) with the arrest of eight persons from Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, alleging that they were conspiring to expand the outfit's presence in the state, recruit new members and propagate its ideology by translating extremist literature into Gujarati.

Alleged 'Darul Islam Gujarat' module

The ATS alleged that the accused had formed a Gujarat-based unit named "Darul Islam Gujarat Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)" to further the activities of the banned organisation.

Investigators claimed that the group consisted of eight active members who were allegedly tasked with inviting and recruiting others into the organisation. According to officials, the accused were working to spread the ideology of Jaish-e-Mohammed by translating the outfit's literature from Urdu into Gujarati to reach a wider audience within the state.

The agency further alleged that the group maintained contact with two Pakistan-based handlers, identified as Abdullah and Mohammad Umar, who were purportedly guiding the activities of the alleged module.

ATS officials claimed that the accused were also actively involved in a broader conspiracy to facilitate terrorist activities in Gujarat on behalf of the banned organisation.

Funding and logistics under investigation

According to investigators, the alleged module had received funding of approximately ₹3 lakh to support its activities. Police claimed that part of the money had been used to purchase a second-hand car, which had not yet been registered in the names of any of the accused. Officials are investigating whether the vehicle was intended to be used in furtherance of the alleged conspiracy.

The ATS said financial transactions, communication records and digital evidence are being analysed to establish the source of the funds and identify any additional persons linked to the alleged network.

Extremist literature and digital evidence seized

The ATS claimed to have recovered substantial digital and documentary material during searches conducted at the residences and premises linked to the accused.

Among the key recoveries, investigators said they found an encrypted online storage application, NordLocker, on the mobile phone allegedly used by Ibrahim Mohammad Hussain Ghagha. According to the agency, the application contained 254 digital files, including books, speeches, audio recordings, videos, photographs and propaganda material allegedly related to Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Police further claimed to have seized two books authored by Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and published in Pakistan, along with literature related to jihad.

Investigators also recovered photographs of eight typed letters written in Urdu and allegedly addressed to Masood Azhar, as well as handwritten Urdu pages purportedly expressing a desire to join the terrorist organisation.

According to the ATS, investigators also found Gujarati translations of portions of Dars-e-Jihad, a book authored by Masood Azhar. Officials alleged that the translations had been prepared by Ibrahim Mohammad Hussain Ghagha and Zakaria Durrani Mohammad Ammar Ghagha as part of efforts to disseminate the organisation's ideology among Gujarati-speaking audiences.

Arrests

ATS officials said the operation was launched following specific intelligence inputs indicating that a group of individuals had become associated with the Pakistan-based terrorist organisation and were working to establish an active support network in Gujarat.

According to the ATS senior official, the investigation began after Deputy Superintendent of Police Harsh Upadhyaya received confidential information suggesting that several individuals were promoting the ideology of the banned outfit and were allegedly planning anti-national and terrorist activities.

The agency claimed the suspects were using multiple communication platforms to contact people across India, encourage recruitment and strengthen the organisation's presence in Gujarat.

Acting on the intelligence, the ATS formed a special investigation team under the supervision of Superintendent of Police K. Siddharth and Deputy Superintendent of Police Harsh Upadhyaya. The team, assisted by officers from Banaskantha, Patan, Navsari and Mehsana districts in Gujarat as well as Dewas Police in Madhya Pradesh, carried out simultaneous raids at multiple locations.

The coordinated operation resulted in the arrest of eight accused, identified as Ahmed Abdullah Ghaziwala alias Abu Ubaidah (19), Ibrahim Mohammad Hussain Ghagha alias Abu Hamza (30), Mudassir Abdullah Ghaziwala alias Abu Aya (22), Zakaria Durrani Mohammad Ammar Ghagha alias Ibn Ammar alias Zakaria Palanpuri (21), Mufti Faujan Ismail Dauwa alias Mufti Sahab (40), Mohammad Amin Shera alias Amin Palanpuri (21), Mohammad Abdul Rehman Sawdi alias Mohammad Palanpuri alias Abu Unesa (22), and Bilal Durrani Mohammad Ammar Ghagha alias Abu Dujana alias Abu Sufyan alias Abu Jundal alias Umar bin Khattab (18).

According to the ATS, the accused hail from Nandasan in Mehsana district, Bhagal in Banaskantha, Jamia Abul Hasan Madrasa in Siddhpur, Jamia Rehmania at Ambheta in Navsari district, and Warsi Nagar in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh.

Case registered under UAPA

Based on the material collected during the investigation, the Gujarat ATS has registered a case against all eight accused under Sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, relating to unlawful activities, raising funds for terrorist acts, conspiracy, membership of a terrorist organisation and providing support to a terrorist organisation.

The accused have also been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to criminal conspiracy and offences against the State.

The ATS said the accused would be produced before a competent court and custodial interrogation would be sought to identify other alleged associates, examine the money trail and determine whether additional arrests are warranted.

The agency added that the investigation is continuing to establish the full extent of the alleged network and any possible links outside Gujarat.