Siddhpur: The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) carried out a major search operation in Siddhpur town of Patan district on Sunday as part of its ongoing investigation into an alleged terror network. Teams conducted searches at multiple locations and questioned several suspects, while local police assisted in the operation.

According to preliminary information, ATS officials raided a cutlery shop in the busy Jhamplipol area after receiving inputs that batteries commonly used in small toys had allegedly been purchased from the shop by a terror suspect. The shop owner was questioned for several hours as investigators examined the transactions.

During the operation, ATS also detained a suspect from a shop named Noorani Tailors in the same locality. The individual was taken to an undisclosed location for further questioning. The raids and questioning created a buzz in the area as security personnel remained deployed until late evening.

It is learnt that five suspects have been detained from different parts of Siddhpur on Sunday. Search operations continued across the town with the support of the local police, and those detained are being questioned as part of the investigation.

The operation comes days after the ATS detained eight suspected terrorists from different parts of Gujarat. According to initial inputs, three suspects were earlier picked up from Siddhpur, three from Palanpur, and one from Chikhli. Investigators are now probing whether the network had plans to disrupt major public events, including the Rath Yatra, and whether efforts were being made to revive the organisation’s activities.

The probe has also been expanded to include questioning of traders in Siddhpur, particularly in the Jhamplipol area, to verify details of goods allegedly purchased by the suspect. Officials believe further questioning and analysis of evidence could lead to more disclosures about the suspected network.

The ATS has not yet issued an official statement on the operation or confirmed the identities of those detained. The investigation is continuing. DeshGujarat