Gujarat Police Bust Al-Qaeda Terror Module: Four Operatives Linked To AQIS Nabbed

In a significant counter-terrorism operation, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested four individuals allegedly linked to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).

The suspects have been identified as Fardeen Shaikh from Ahmedabad, Mohd Faiq from Delhi, Zeeshan Ali from Noida, and Saifullah Qureshi from Modasa, ANI reported.

The arrests follow a surveillance-led investigation into social media activity promoting extremist ideology.

ATS DIG Sunil Joshi revealed that the operation stemmed from intelligence received on 10 June by Gujarat ATS Deputy SP Harsh Upadhyay, flagging five Instagram accounts actively disseminating anti-India and pro-jihad content.

“They were sharing content on a religious basis, against democracy, against India,” said Joshi.

A dedicated technical team was formed to trace the suspects’ online and offline behaviour. “It was found that not just their social media but also their physical movement is suspicious,” he added.

The coordinated operation led to the arrest of all four accused, during which digital and physical evidence, including a sword and Al-Qaeda-related material, were seized from Fardeen.

The accused were reportedly part of multiple Instagram groups used to propagate radical ideologies and call for the implementation of Shariat over democratic governance.

One of the accused, Mohd Faiq, was in contact with Pakistani accounts that supplied him extremist content.

“We have recovered documents on Operation Sindoor from Fardeen. The posts made at that time were anti-Indian Government, pro-Pakistani and instigating material on religious basis...” Joshi said.

The FIR includes sections 13, 18, 38, and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and sections 113, 152, 196, and 68 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

While Saifullah and Fardeen have been remanded to 14-day remand, while the other two are set to be produced in court.

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