Gujarat ATS Arrests 8 Alleged Jaish-e-Mohammed Operatives Ahead of Rath Yatra

AHMEDABAD : Just 13 days before Gujarat’s annual Rath Yatra, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has carried out one of its biggest anti-terror operations in recent years, arresting eight alleged operatives linked to the banned terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). According to the ATS, the suspects were allegedly working to expand the outfit’s network in Gujarat under the guidance of Pakistani handlers, raising fresh concerns over security ahead of one of the state’s largest religious processions.

The arrests were made during coordinated raids across Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh following months of technical surveillance and human intelligence gathering. The accused have been taken into custody and are being interrogated on allegations of anti-national activities and links with a cross-border terror network.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Ahmed Abdullah Ghaziwala, Ibrahim Mohammad Hussain Ghagha, Mudassir Abdullah Ghaziwala, Zakaria Durrani, Mufti Faujan, Mohammad Amin Shera, Mohammad Abdul Rehman Sawdi and Bilal Mohammad. According to the ATS, the accused are residents of Banaskantha and Patan districts, while some were apprehended from locations including Siddhpur, Bhagdad, Navsari and parts of Madhya Pradesh.

Addressing the media, Gujarat ATS DIG (Operations) Sunil Joshi said the operation marks the 11th terror-related case handled by the ATS in the past three-and-a-half years, with 38 accused arrested during this period.

“We received intelligence that some individuals from Banaskantha and Patan were associated with Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed. Based on technical evidence and human intelligence, we identified eight accused who were operating from different locations in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh,” Joshi said.

According to investigators, the accused had allegedly formed a local unit named “Darul Islam Gujarat Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)” with the objective of recruiting members in Gujarat and spreading the ideology of the banned terror outfit. The ATS alleged that the group maintained contact with Pakistani handlers identified as Abdullah and Mohammad Umar, who allegedly directed their activities.

Officials claimed the module had received approximately ₹3 lakh in funding, part of which was allegedly used to purchase an old vehicle for operational purposes. The vehicle, according to investigators, was not registered in the names of the accused.

The ATS also stated that no specific terror target or reconnaissance activity has been established so far during the investigation. However, officials alleged that the accused were actively attempting to build an organisational network and recruit new members.

“No target or reconnaissance has been found yet. Their primary focus appears to have been strengthening the network and propagating extremist ideology,” Joshi said.

Investigators said mobile phones seized from the accused allegedly contained encrypted applications, including Nord Locker, along with digital material linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed. The ATS claimed to have recovered 254 files, including books, audio recordings, videos, photographs, flags associated with the banned outfit, Urdu letters allegedly addressed to JeM chief Masood Azhar, and translated versions of extremist literature in Gujarati.

Officials further alleged that some of the accused were involved in studying or teaching at madrasas and had translated portions of JeM literature from Urdu into Gujarati to expand the group’s ideological reach.

The investigation is continuing, with the ATS examining digital evidence, financial transactions and possible links to other individuals. Authorities have indicated that further arrests or action cannot be ruled out as the probe progresses.