Ranchi: In a joint operation by Delhi Police’s Special Cell and Jharkhand ATS (Anti-Terrorism Squad), a suspected Al-Qaeda operative, Shahbaz Ansari, was arrested from the Chanho area near Ranchi. Shahbaz is an accused in case number 301/24 under the Delhi Special Cell. The arrest was confirmed by Jharkhand ATS SP Rishabh Jha.
Shahbaz Ansari was apprehended from his village, Chitri, situated near the Ranchi-Lohardaga border. He had been on the run since last year when Delhi Police, in collaboration with central agencies and state police forces, launched a nationwide crackdown on Al-Qaeda operatives. This extensive operation spanned Jharkhand, Delhi, and Rajasthan, leading to the arrest of multiple suspects involved in a conspiracy to declare a “Caliphate” in India and execute terrorist plots.
In Jharkhand, eight suspected members of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) were arrested, while six individuals undergoing training in Rajasthan were also detained. Many of these operatives hailed from Jharkhand. Shahbaz managed to evade arrest during these raids but was finally tracked down after intelligence reports confirmed his presence in his native village.
Dr Ishtiyaq Ahmed Identified as Mastermind
The investigation into this case earlier pointed to Dr. Ishtiyaq Ahmed, a doctor employed at a private hospital in Ranchi, as the mastermind behind the alleged network. During the initial crackdown in August 2024, the ATS arrested Ahmed from Al Hasan Residency in Bariatu, Ranchi, following inputs from the Delhi Police. On the same day, the ATS also apprehended Faizan Ahmed from Hazaribagh.
आज इसी चान्हो से झारखंड ATS और दिल्ली पुलिस की टीम ने अलकायदा के एक आतंकवादी शाहबाज अंसारी को गिरफ्तार किया है ।
ये पोस्ट मैंने 30 अक्टूबर को लिखा था और आशंका जताई थी कि वहाँ सब ठीक नहीं ।
इस पोस्ट के नीचे लिखे हुए कुछ कमेंट्स को पढ़िए की कैसे कुछ लोग इसे तब प्रोपेगंडा बता रहे… https://t.co/O5IichVzuL— Dr Anuj Kumar (@dranuj_k) January 10, 2025
Weapons Recovered in Lohardaga
Last year, the ATS raided the village of Heinzla Kowakhap in Lohardaga while searching for another suspect, Altaf Ansari. Although Altaf was not present at his residence, the team recovered two firearms and several incriminating documents. Shahbaz’s home was also searched during this operation, but he had already fled.
Authorities have now arrested nine suspects, including Dr. Ishtiyaq Ahmed, Faizan Ahmed, and others from Ranchi and Lohardaga. Shahbaz Ansari’s capture marks a significant step in dismantling the alleged terror network operating in the region. The investigation remains ongoing as the ATS and Delhi Police continue their search for other suspects linked to the case.
