Gujarat ATS arrests Siddhpur man, Mumbai aide for alleged ISIS links, anti-India terror plot

The Gujarat AntiTerrorism Squad ATS has arrested a 22yearold man from Siddhpur in Patan district and his Mumbaibased associate for allegedly conspiring to carry out antiIndia activities and build an extremist network officials said adding that further investigations are underway to uncover wider links ANI reportedThe Gujarat ATS has been monitoring antiIndia activities on social media and the internet through technical and human intelligence inputsAccused allegedly influenced by extremist ideologyAccording to ANI during the surveillance Police SubInspector AP Parmar received specific intelligence that Irfan Kalekhan Pathan a resident of Siddhpur in Patan district was allegedly influenced by extremist Islamic ideologyAs per the officials Pathan along with his associates allegedly conspired to establish ldquoGhazwaeHindrdquo in India by carrying out an armed rebellion against the Government of India and spreading fearHe was reportedly collecting weapons and preparing to manufacture explosives the news agency reportedHe was also allegedly attempting to radicalise and recruit individuals both within India and abroad and was in the process of building a networkATS forms team detains suspectAfter verifying the inputs senior ATS officials were informed following which a team was constituted under the guidance of Superintendent of Police K Siddharth and led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Virjeetsinh ParmarThe accused was detained and brought to the ATS office for preliminary questioningLinks with suspected ISIS operativesAccording to ANI during the inquiry officials said data retrieved from his mobile phone indicated that he was in contact with suspected ISISlinked individuals and other radical elements through messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and InstagramAlleged terror plans uncoveredInvestigators further alleged that the accused along with his associates was planning to target political leaders individuals associated with the RSS and others to spread terror and enforce extremist objectivesThe alleged plan included mobilising recruits from different states training them in handling weapons and making explosives establishing links with terror outfits procuring arms from across borders and arranging funds for terrorist activities ANI reportedFIR registered main accused arrestedBased on the findings an FIR was registered at the ATS Police Station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya SanhitaThe accused identified as Irfan Kalekhan Pathan 22 has been arrested and further investigation is underwayMumbai link emerges second accused heldFurther investigation revealed that Murshid Zahid Akhtar Sheikh a resident of Sakinaka in Mumbai was also allegedly involved in the activities along with PathanAn ATS team including PSI Sandeep Chavda PSI Ashish Bara PSI MM Gadhvi and PWSI Paresh Vasava was formed With assistance from the Maharashtra Police Sheikh was detained and brought to the ATS office for interrogationIncriminating material recoveredDuring questioning officials said objectionable material was found on Sheikhrsquos mobile phone along with chats indicating coordination with Pathan in planning alleged antinational activities He was subsequently arrestedAccused in police custody probe continuesAccording to ANI both accused have been remanded to police custody for 11 days Further investigation is underway to identify and take action against others involved in the alleged conspiracyWith ANI inputs