Ahmedabad: Security agencies have stepped up vigilance against possible terrorist activities ahead of the upcoming Rath Yatra in Gujarat. The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested eight people from Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh for allegedly being associated with the banned terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Investigators claim the accused were conspiring to establish the terror group’s network in Gujarat, radicalize youth and spread extremist ideology.

The investigation has now shifted focus to Bhagal village in Palanpur taluka of Banaskantha district. During police remand, the ATS reconstructed the sequence of events by taking the accused to the village to verify their movements, contacts and other evidence. Of the eight arrested, six were brought to Palanpur, where search operations were carried out at their residences.

The ATS searched the homes of two brothers, Mudashir Abdullah Ghajiwala (22) and Ahmed Abdullah Ghajiwala (19), in Bhagal village. The residence of their maternal uncle, Ibrahim Mohammad Hussain Ghagga, was also searched. According to the ATS, preliminary findings suggest Ibrahim had previously been associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed and had undergone training in Kashmir. Searches are also continuing at the residences of the other accused.

According to the ATS, searches led to the seizure of objectionable literature, jihadi books, audio and video material, photographs and documents allegedly linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed. Investigators also recovered 254 files stored in the Nord Locker application on the mobile phone of one of the accused. The files allegedly contained jihadi literature, speeches, audio recordings, videos, photographs and the Jaish-e-Mohammed flag.

The ATS further alleged that the accused had formed an organisation named “Darul Islam Gujarat Jaish-e-Mohammed” to further the activities of the banned outfit. Through the group, they allegedly attempted to recruit and radicalize others. Investigators claim the accused also translated Urdu-language extremist literature into Gujarati for wider dissemination.

According to the ATS, the accused were in contact with Pakistan-based handlers identified as Abdullah and Mohammad Umar. The agency alleged that they received around ₹3 lakh in funding to further the conspiracy, part of which was used to purchase a second-hand car.

The operation was led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Harsh Upadhyay. The Gujarat ATS, along with police teams from Banaskantha, Mehsana, Patan, Navsari and Dewas in Madhya Pradesh, arrested all eight accused in a coordinated operation.

The accused have been booked under Sections 13, 17, 18, 38 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, and Sections 61 and 148 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The ATS said further investigation is underway to trace the accused’s network, funding sources, local contacts and any wider terror conspiracy. DeshGujarat