In a major counter-terrorism operation, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a woman from Bengaluru identified as Sama Parveen, who is accused of having links with the banned terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda. She was allegedly involved in jihadist propaganda and radicalisation activities through social media platforms, particularly Instagram.
According to Gujarat ATS officials, Sama Parveen was in contact with four previously arrested terror suspects who were also linked to Al-Qaeda. She was allegedly part of an Instagram group used to spread anti-national sentiments and jihadist ideologies. She was actively uploading provocative content aimed at influencing and recruiting youth for extremist activities.
Sources revealed that Sama Parveen’s involvement came to light during a covert intelligence operation. During interrogation, she reportedly confessed to spreading jihadist content through various online platforms and engaging in radical propaganda. The ATS has seized digital evidence and detailed data from her devices, further substantiating her online involvement in terrorist activities.
The breakthrough in this case stems from the interrogation of four terror suspects previously arrested by the Gujarat ATS—two from Ahmedabad and Modasa in Gujarat, and two others from Delhi and Noida. These individuals were found disseminating inflammatory content across social media platforms and promoting videos and speeches related to “Ghazwa-e-Hind,” a term used by extremists to call for an Islamic conquest of India. Investigations into these suspects led authorities to Sama Parveen’s digital footprint in Bengaluru.
Following the arrests, the ATS closely monitored five Instagram accounts that were consistently sharing extremist content. Upon tracing the origin of the accounts to a single operator, the ATS formed four teams, including members of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), to zero in on the suspect. The culmination of the operation led to Parveen’s arrest on the morning of July 29.
Sama Parveen, originally from Jharkhand, had been residing in Manorama Palya 10th Cross in Bengaluru’s Hebbal area for the past five years. Acting on credible intelligence, a Gujarat ATS team raided her residence at around 9:30 AM on July 29 and took her into custody.
Her arrest is reportedly linked to the ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam) case in Jharkhand. Within hours of her detention, she was produced before the 8th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Court in Bengaluru. Judge Vishwanath granted the Gujarat police a transit warrant, thereby allowing the ATS to formally transfer the accused to Gujarat for further investigation.
The ATS has initiated a more comprehensive inquiry to uncover the full extent of Sama Parveen’s connections and role within the terror network. Officials stated that detailed questioning and digital forensic analysis would continue in the coming days.
The arrest of Sama Parveen is seen as a significant success for the Gujarat ATS, which has been intensifying its crackdown on digital radicalisation and terror financing across the country. Authorities believe that extremist elements are increasingly misusing online platforms like Instagram to promote terrorist ideologies, and are calling for tighter cyber monitoring and legislative mechanisms to prevent such activities.
