Gujarat ATS arrests Navsari resident in Jaish-linked terror conspiracy case

The accused has been identified as Faizan Shaikh alias Faizan Shakeel Salmani, a resident of the Zarawad area near Asha Masjid in Navsari. He is originally from Dundawala village in Narpat Nagar, Suar tehsil of Rampur district in Uttar Pradesh and was working as a tailor in Navsari, officials said.

According to the ATS, Shaikh was arrested on January 25 following specific intelligence inputs received by Deputy Superintendent of Police Harsh Upadhyay. Based on the inputs, the ATS initiated sustained technical surveillance and field-level verification, which indicated that the accused had allegedly hatched a conspiracy to spread fear through violent acts inspired by extremist ideology.

Officials claimed that during the investigation, the ATS traced a suspicious Instagram account allegedly operated by Shaikh, which was used to access and circulate radical content linked to banned outfits such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Al-Qaeda. Further analysis of his digital footprint, including activity on platforms such as Telegram and WhatsApp, revealed alleged communication with a handler identified as Mohammad Abu Bakr, who is currently absconding.

A joint team of the Gujarat ATS and Navsari police conducted a discreet raid in the area following confirmation of Shaikh’s presence and took him into custody. During a search, the ATS recovered one country-made pistol and six live cartridges, along with a mobile phone.

Preliminary examination of the seized phone allegedly revealed provocative literature, images and videos supporting terrorist ideology. Officials said the material included threats of violence, references to 'jihad', and content glorifying banned terrorist leaders and organisations. The recovered data also allegedly contained maps, photographs and messages aimed at inciting hatred and violence, particularly calling for attacks on individuals accused of insulting religious beliefs.