The Gujarat BJP government demolished a madrasa in Himkhdipara village of Dhari taluka, Amreli district, on charges of illegal encroachment and links to cross-border terror networks. The structure, run by Maulana Mohammad Fazal Abdul Aziz Sheikh, has emerged as the epicenter of a growing investigation into suspected radical links with Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, prompting a joint crackdown by Gujarat’s Special Operations Group (SOG), Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), and state police.
This move comes amid increased security protocols across the country following the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack in J&K. Authorities say that the arrest of Maulana Sheikh, who hails from Ahmedabad’s sensitive Juhapura locality, could unearth deeper foreign-backed radicalisation efforts camouflaged under religious education.
According to officials from the Revenue Department and the office of Dhari Provincial Officer Harshvardhansinh Jadeja, the madrasa was illegally built on land earmarked under a state welfare scheme. “This parcel of land was originally allotted to economically weaker sections as part of a government housing initiative. However, our investigation revealed an illicit transfer of the land to a private religious institution without any legal approval,” Jadeja told reporters.
The madrasa, which had reportedly been operating for the past few years without a valid land-use certificate or formal recognition from the education department, was found to be flouting multiple zoning and construction laws.
While the land violation provided the legal ground for the demolition, the trigger for immediate action came from the explosive findings retrieved from Maulana Sheikh’s mobile phone. During a routine check initiated by local intelligence units, the phone was found to contain multiple WhatsApp groups with foreign numbers, many of them originating from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. The majority of conversations were conducted in Arabic and included digital content under scrutiny for possible radical propaganda.
A senior SOG officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that, “We found several encrypted messages and suspicious file transfers. Some of these chat groups had Pakistani ISPs and included known handlers of radical outfits flagged by Indian security agencies.”
The Amreli SOG immediately handed over the device and all related materials to Gujarat ATS for a deeper investigation. ATS cyber forensic teams are now decoding the full extent of Maulana Sheikh’s communications, overseas links, and any financial transactions linked to suspicious entities abroad.
Originally from Juhapura—a locality in Ahmedabad that has previously come under security radar for communal sensitivity—Maulana Mohammad Fazal Abdul Aziz Sheikh had shifted to Amreli district a few years ago, claiming to be an Islamic educator.
What raised further suspicion was his absence from district religious registries and lack of institutional affiliation with any recognised madrasa board. Despite this, he ran the Himkhdipara madrasa, occasionally inviting speakers and clerics from other regions without formal documentation or police verification.
Gujarat Police believe he may have used this obscurity as a cover to foster connections with foreign-based operatives. Investigators are now digging into his previous visits abroad, potential hawala routes, and association with any pan-Islamic groups working to spread extremist ideology under the guise of education.
To ensure the demolition did not spark unrest in the rural belt, a 360-degree security plan was implemented. Two Deputy Superintendents of Police, three Police Inspectors, and multiple squads of law enforcement personnel were deployed overnight to monitor the site.
“We were prepared for any fallout. The operation was smooth but backed by complete intelligence,” said DySP Parakramsinh Rathod. “The situation was assessed for communal sensitivity, and the timing was chosen specifically to avoid any public gathering or confrontation.”
On May 3, Maulana Sheikh was formally taken into ATS custody. According to sources within Gujarat ATS, he is now being interrogated for his possible links to handlers across the border. ATS officials are also working with central intelligence agencies to trace whether Sheikh was part of a larger communication network targeting Gujarat and western India.
A senior ATS official disclosed, “The content on his phone included religious propaganda, recruitment messaging, and suspected encryption software. We are investigating if he was acting as a node in a multi-country digital radicalisation network.”
The agency has already submitted an initial report to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Multiple digital devices seized from the madrasa are now being analysed under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Information Technology Act.
The Gujarat BJP government has defended the action as a necessary step in the interest of national security. “This is not about religion. This is about law, order, and our duty to prevent foreign infiltration and radical indoctrination,” said a top official from the Gujarat Home Department.
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