Gujarat ATS Arrests Five Individuals Linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed Probe

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has apprehended five individuals as part of an investigation into a terror module affiliated with the Pakistan-based group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The arrests occurred in Khadiyal village, located in the Siddhpur taluka of Patan district.

The individuals are identified as Bilal Abidbhai Shera, Mohammad Ayub Kadiwala, Mohammad Palanpuri, also known as Khali Ayub Sunsara, Shafia Rais Mukhti, and Mohammad Hasan Kardia. Their detention follows an earlier arrest of eight alleged JeM operatives at the beginning of the month.

According to officials, the five suspects were apprehended after their names were revealed during the inquiry into the previously arrested group. They were subsequently brought before Judicial Magistrate R M Bhatia in Kadi, a town in Mehsana district, where they were remanded into ATS custody until July 24.

Public Prosecutor P R Dantani informed the court that one of the detained individuals had allegedly attempted to create a time bomb. Prosecutors also noted that bomb-making materials and JeM-related literature in Urdu had not yet been recovered. Dantani stated that the ATS aims to discover the origins of the bomb-making materials, their hiding places, and the sources of jihadi literature linked to JeM.

He reported that the accused had tried to test a crude time bomb, though the attempt was reportedly unsuccessful. Dantani further revealed that one of the eight individuals arrested earlier, identified as Amin, had allegedly supplied JeM materials to the newcomers. Additionally, it was highlighted that another suspect possessed knowledge on bomb-making techniques.

On July 3, earlier this month, the Gujarat ATS detained eight suspected members of Jaish-e-Mohammed from various locations across Gujarat and neighbouring Madhya Pradesh. Authorities have indicated that these arrests were part of efforts to dismantle an emerging terror network in Gujarat.