Gujarat Police foils the bid to carry out love-wolf attacks at various Hindu religious places by arresting two brother terrorists
Jaywant Pandya
from Karnavati
It was February 26 again, the day when 59 innocent Hindus were burned to death in a well planned conspiracy 15 years ago. After 15 years, another major conspiracy to kill Hindu devotees at famous Maa Chamunda temple of Chotila was planned but thanks to the Gujarat government , specially the ATS which nabbed two ISIS operatives from Rajkot and Bhavnagar and major terror attack was averted.
It was Sunday when the news channels started flashing two ISIS operatives being arrested from Gujarat. They had planned to conduct ‘lone-wolf’ attack in the state. According to Gujarat ATS, arrested persons were identified as Waseem and Naeem Ramodiya. Both are brothers. They are not low educated persons, but highly educated persons. Wasim is having MCA degree and Naeem is having BCA degree. This shows how ISIS and other terrorist organizations are influencing highly educated persons too. And more shocking fact is that they were not directly recruited by the ISIS but were impressed by ISIS ideology on internet during the last two years. This situation demands immediate ban on pro- ISIS literature on internet. After impressed by ISIS, they got in contact with ISIS through Skype, Telegram, Twitter and Whatsapp.
They were also in touch with ISIS’ s controversial preacher Mufti Abdus Sami Qazim. Qazim was arrested by NIA in last year. Incidentally, it was also in the month of February. According to ATS ACP B S Chawda, “They were on our radar for the last three months. When we arrested them, they were in process of making an improvised bomb to carry out lone-wolf attacks.”
“They were attracted to ISIS two years back and started taking interest in its activities. They were in contact with main ISIS persons as well as unknown handlers to get guidance. Evidence collected during raids, including some audio clips, established that the duo were having links with the terror outfit,” said Inspector General of Gujarat ATS, J K Bhatt.
During the raids, police seized computers and mobile phones with jihadi literature, knife, gun powder and masks to hide their identity during terror attacks. They have been charged under IPC and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Explosive Substances Act.
Following intense questioning, the Ramodiya brothers — Waseem and Naeem —have reportedly revealed that they had twice attempted to carry out a terror attack. Their first attempt was to kill a person while the second was to set ablaze a vehicle. After these unsuccessful attempts, they had planned to attack the Chamunda temple at Chotila. On December 5 last year, there was a hoax call received at the temple about a bomb being planted there. They confessed that they were to make bombs. Rajkot was on their target. They also visited Chotila. They learned to make bombs through internet. They had planned to plant bombs in Trikonbag and Gundawadi areas of Rajkot. Both were sent to 12 days police custody.
Gujarat police is not ruling out the possibility of others being involved in the ISIS terror module. The Gujarat ATS has also recovered three-four pen drives, three mobile phones, books believed to be written in Arabic language, and print out of chatting from the Ramodiya brothers. Gujarat police have now approached their Uttar Pradesh counterparts to hunt for more suspects in this case. Sources in the ATS claimed that a call intercept had revealed Waseem telling Naeem that he dreamt of slain al-Qaida kingpin, Osma bin-Laden.
Both brothers were in contact with ISIS men in Syria. They had planned attack at various Hindu religious places including Chotila and also cutting necks of ‘kaafir’ (word for nonbeliever’s in Islam). ATS has intercepted 173 call records of Waseem with his handler. As per one phone record, Waseem informs to Qazim, “Waseem muqammel kaam karne ke liye taiyar hai.” Qazim asks him, “Kill kaafir and shoot video.” In reply, Waseem says, “Ek kaafir ki katla karnee hai jo shahar se 30 km dooree par hai. Wahan inka (Hindus’) bada famous mandir hai.” In another conversations, ISIS bosses in Syria ordered Waseem, “Kuchh aisa kaam karke dikhao ke Allah khush ho jaye!”.
Gujarat ATS got shocking details from computer of Waseem in which ISIS’ sent news. Message in news was that they had to wipe out US and Israel. If they wouldn’t do it, Muslims in Syria will be wiped out. But they wouldn’t let this happen and would destroy the US and Israel. Christians would convert to Muslims and would join with them.
ISIS agents use to propagate so-called brutality on Muslims and injustice to them through CDs, audios and books. The ISIS agents use to provoke to attack Hindus, explode bombs on Hindu religious places.
But it was not just ISIS handler Qazim who was guide and ‘instigating’ factor. It was Waseem’s wife Shahjeen too. As per new reports, Waseem visited Chotila on February 24. But Waseem called Shahjeen and told that he was feeling nervous. He felt attack was not going to succeed. At this point, Shahjeen told Waseem, “Kaafir ke saamne ladai hai. Allah tumhara saath dega. Gabharaya bina kaam purun karee naakh. (Go ahead without hesitation.)” She also told, cut head if someone comes in way of attack. However, it is surprising that Shahjeen has not been arrested yet ..
Waseem had Facebook account on name of ‘rebel rebel’. He had put profile picture in which one terrorist can be seen with gun. He has written in cover photo “Let dooms happen, let anything happen to me, I love you.” He has posted many posts related to Islam. He has posted against demonetisation decision of Modi government too.
Waseem has studied in Saint Mary School. He used to work at a Rajkot-based graphic designing firm after completing his MCA, while Naeem used to work with a ship recycling unit in Bhavnagar after completing his BCA. Naeem was fond of “Counter strike game” and used to go to play this game in Game Zone at Samskar Mandal, Bhavnagar.
Both brothers’ father Areef was caught unaware about his sons’ terror activities. When ATS raided his house located in Moradiya area of Rajkot, he was shocked. Areef is said to be living a simple life. He was speechless when he heard from police and slapped his son three-four times. He said he would have to consume poison due to his sons’ terror activities. Areef is retired steno typist from Saurashtra University. He retired just two years ago. He used to serve as cricket umpire in Saurashtra Cricket Association’s district level matches.
