Gujarat: Anti-Terror Squad arrests three people accused of having links with Al-Qaeda

On August 2, 2023, the Gujarat Anti-terror Squad arrested three people from Rajkot for their alleged links with terrorist organisation Al Qaeda as per officials.  The arrests were made after the ATS team acted on a tip-off and closely monitored the suspects for several days

The artisans from West Bengal working in the city jewellery-making industry were allegedly involved in contact with a handler based in Bangladesh who directed them off to execute various tasks, including radicalisation people to join their outfit.

The ATS team picked them for questioning on July 31, 2023, and the superintendent of the police Om Prakash Jat told reporters.

Know all about the accused arrested

The accused have been identified as Shukra Ali, Shaif Nawaz and Aman Malik, were detained and arrested Nawaz has been in Rajkot for the last two years, while the other two have been here for seven to eight months. The first two are from Bardhhaman District in West Bengal and the third is from Hooghly.

“Three people arrested by Gujarat ATS brought by them to Ahmedabad. The ATS will hold a press conference shortly.

Weapons Recovered from the accused

A country-made semi-automatic pistol, ten rounds of the cartridge, five mobile phones with radical materials, encrypted message apps and other apps, along with materials on how to use semi-automatic and automatic weapons, were all recovered from the accused and sent for forensic examination. The official said.

Police Investigation and Links of Accused

The authorities are currently investigating financial transactions and mobile phones to track the extent of their association with terrorist organisations. The trio used highly encrypted messaging apps to keep in touch with their handler. Their interrogation has revealed that Malik has been using the Telegram App for the last year to keep in touch with a foreign handler, who is the leader of Al Qaeda in Bangladesh, the official said.

He was entrusted with the task of radicalising others to join the outfit and used two messaging apps to receive radical literature, videos and training on how to use the weapons. He was in touch with Shukra Ali, and Shaif Nawaz, who shared a mindset and agreed to work for the outfit and a probe is underway to find out who had joined the outfit and how the weapons have been procured.

Punitive Measures Taken

The trio has been arrested under Section 121-A (conspiring to overawe, by means of criminal force or show of criminal force, the central government or the state government) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of the Arms Act.

Earlier in May 2023, the ATS busted an Al Qaeda module and arrested four Bangladeshis who were living illegally in Ahmedabad.