Gujarat ATS Arrests Woman After 18 Years For Transporting Arms To Avenge 2002 Post-Godhra Riots

The Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested a 52-year-old woman in Ahmedabad, who allegedly transported weapons arms meant to be used for taking revenge for the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

The arrest comes 18 years after the incident.

Following a lead, Anjum Qureshi, also known as Anjum Kanpuri, was arrested by the ATS from a house in Vatva on 23 January.

Anjum, who was booked under the Arms Act in 2005, has been remanded in police custody for three days, it added.

Her husband Feroze Kanpuri, also an accused in the case, had died in 2009.

According to a statement by the agency, the couple, along with others, collected Rs 50,000 to purchase weapons and cartridges to “take revenge after the communal riots in Ahmedabad”.

“To avenge the 2002 post-Godhra riots, three men from the city, Waris Pathan, Naseem Pathan and Nadir Khan Pathan, decided to buy arms and ammunition by collecting funds. They collected Rs 50,000 from people in 2005 and gave it to one Ghulam Rabbani Shaikh to buy guns and cartridges from Uttar Pradesh,” it added, The Indian Express reported.

According to the ATS, all four persons were arrested in 2005 and 10 countrymade guns as well as an equal number of cartridges were seized from them, and they are currently facing trial.

“Their interrogation revealed that Feroze Kanpuri and his wife Anjum Kanpuri were also involved in the crime. As directed by Ghulam, they had gone to Dahod in their vehicle and collected some of the arms and delivered them to Waris in Ahmedabad,” the statement said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (ATS) S L Chaudhary was quoted as saying by The Indian Express that they were feeling insecured and thus bought the weapons.