The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested five more persons in connection with an alleged terror module linked to the Pakistan-based banned terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), taking the total number of arrests in the case to 13.

The latest arrests were made from Khadiyal village in Siddhpur taluka of Patan district. The accused have been identified as Bilal Abidbhai Shera, Mohammad Ayub Kadiwala alias Mohammed Khadiyasan, Mohammad Palanpuri alias Khali Ayub Sunsara, Shafia Rais Mukhti alias Shafi Chapi and Mohammad Hasan Kardia alias Hasan Haidarpuri.

Five Accused Sent to ATS Custody

The five accused were produced before Judicial Magistrate R.M. Bhatia in Kadi, Mehsana district. The court remanded them to Gujarat ATS custody until July 24 to facilitate further investigation.

The arrests come days after coordinated raids conducted by the ATS across Gujarat and neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, during which eight suspects were taken into custody.

Investigation into Alleged Terror Network

According to ATS officials, the investigation suggests the accused were allegedly part of a wider network linked to the banned terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed. Investigators are examining allegations of radicalisation, recruitment and logistical support activities.

Officials claim the accused were allegedly in contact with handlers based in Pakistan through encrypted messaging applications and social media platforms. These allegations are part of the ongoing investigation and have not yet been tested in court.

Electronic Devices Seized

During the searches, the ATS seized mobile phones, laptops and other electronic devices from the accused. The devices have been sent for forensic examination to recover communication records and digital evidence.

Investigators are also analysing financial transactions, bank accounts and online activities to determine whether the alleged network received foreign funding or maintained links with operatives in other states.

Further Investigation Underway

The ATS has not disclosed whether the alleged module had identified any specific targets, stating that the investigation is at a sensitive stage.

Officials said further arrests and searches cannot be ruled out as forensic analysis and interrogation of the accused continue. The investigation is being carried out in coordination with central and state security agencies to determine the full extent of the alleged network.

The accused remain under investigation, and the allegations against them will be subject to judicial proceedings.: 

Security agencies crack down on alleged terror network operating across Gujarat and MP; investigation into funding and recruitment continues

In a major anti-terror operation ahead of the annual Rath Yatra, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested eight suspected operatives allegedly linked to the banned terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The coordinated operation was carried out across Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh following intelligence inputs indicating efforts to expand the outfit's network in western India.

According to officials, the arrests were made during simultaneous raids conducted at multiple locations. Investigators believe the accused were actively working to strengthen the organisation's presence by recruiting individuals, circulating extremist material and maintaining contact with handlers linked to the terror outfit.

Among those arrested is Bilal Durrani, who was apprehended from Dewas district in Madhya Pradesh. Police sources said he had allegedly been living in the city's Warsi Nagar area for a considerable period without attracting attention from local authorities.

The remaining accused include Ahmed Abdullah Ghaziwala, Ibrahim Mohammad Hussain Ghagha, Mudassir Abdullah Ghaziwala, Zakariya Durrani, Mufti Fauzan, Mohammad Amin Shera and Mohammad Abdul Rehman Savdi, most of whom belong to Gujarat.

Officials said two of the accused are teenagers aged 18 and 19, while others are between their early twenties and forties. Initial investigations suggest that the suspects were allegedly operating under instructions from Jaish-e-Mohammed handlers and attempting to establish a stronger organisational base in Gujarat.

Digital evidence and alleged funding trail recovered

The ATS has reportedly recovered mobile phones containing alleged extremist literature, videos, audio recordings and handwritten notes. Investigators are examining the digital devices to determine the extent of the alleged network and identify additional contacts.

Officials also suspect the accused received financial support for their activities. Preliminary findings indicate that around ₹3 lakh may have been transferred through suspected terror-funding channels. Authorities are tracing the origin of these transactions to identify possible financiers and foreign connections.

Investigators are also scrutinising communication records, encrypted messaging applications and social media activity as part of the ongoing probe.

Operation launched ahead of Rath Yatra

The arrests assume significance as they were made just days before Gujarat's annual Rath Yatra, one of the state's largest religious processions that attracts thousands of devotees and involves extensive security arrangements every year.

Security agencies routinely intensify surveillance ahead of major public events, and officials said the operation was part of preventive measures aimed at neutralising potential security threats.

Charges under UAPA and BNS

The ATS has registered a case against all eight accused under multiple provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA), including Sections 13, 17, 18, 38 and 39, which relate to unlawful activities, terror funding, conspiracy and support to terrorist organisations.

Additional charges have also been invoked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

All the accused remain in ATS custody and are being questioned to determine the full extent of the alleged network, recruitment activities, financial transactions and any possible links with handlers operating outside India.

Officials said further arrests cannot be ruled out as the investigation progresses.

In a major counter-terrorism operation conducted just 13 days before the annual Rath Yatra, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested eight suspected operatives allegedly linked to the banned terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The arrests were made during coordinated raids across Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh following specific intelligence inputs, officials said.

According to the ATS, the suspects were allegedly attempting to strengthen the terror organisation's network in Gujarat. Multiple ATS teams simultaneously carried out search operations at different locations, leading to the detention of all eight accused. They are currently being interrogated to determine the extent of their alleged involvement and identify any wider network or operational plans.

Officials said the action is part of heightened security measures being implemented ahead of the annual Rath Yatra, one of Gujarat's largest religious processions that attracts thousands of devotees and remains under extensive security surveillance every year.

The arrested suspects have been identified as Ahmed Abdullah Gajiwala alias Abu Ubaida (19), Ibrahim Mohammad Husen Ghagha alias Abu Hamza (30), Mudassir Abdullah Ghaziwala alias Abu Aya (22), Zakariya Durani Mohammad Ammar Ghagha alias Ibn Ammar and Zakariya Palanpuri (21), Mufti Faujan Ismail Dauwa alias Mufti Sahab (40), Mohammad Amin Shera alias Amin Palanpuri (21), Mohammad Abdul Rahman Savdi alias Mohammad Palanpuri and Abu Unisa (22), and Bilal Durani Mohammad Ammar Ghagha alias Abu Dujana, Abu Sufiyan, Abu Zundal and Umar bin Khattab (18), who hails from Dewas in Madhya Pradesh.

Investigators said the accused are being questioned over their alleged involvement in anti-national activities, recruitment efforts and suspected links with Jaish-e-Mohammed. Security agencies are also examining their communication records, financial transactions, digital devices and possible contacts with other individuals associated with extremist organisations.

The ATS has not disclosed whether the group had any immediate plans to target the Rath Yatra or any other public event. Officials maintained that the investigation is at a preliminary stage and further details will emerge after sustained interrogation and forensic examination of the seized material.

A criminal case has been registered against all eight accused under Sections 13, 17, 18, 38 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, along with Sections 148 and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. These provisions deal with unlawful activities, raising funds for terrorism, conspiracy, membership and support to terrorist organisations, as well as offences related to criminal conduct.

Officials said additional legal action could follow depending on the outcome of the ongoing investigation. The ATS is also coordinating with central intelligence agencies and law enforcement authorities in other states to trace any interstate or cross-border links connected to the accused.

Security agencies routinely intensify surveillance before major religious gatherings such as the Rath Yatra due to the large public participation. The latest operation is being viewed as part of preventive security measures aimed at disrupting suspected terror modules before they can establish operational capabilities.

Authorities have appealed to the public not to circulate unverified information on social media and assured that all necessary security arrangements are in place for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the upcoming Rath Yatra.

118.98 kg found on Cyprus-flagged cargo ship 'Europe'; African nationals detained, one crewman jumped overboard

A joint operation by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Indian Coast Guard on Tuesday led to the seizure of 118.98 kg of cocaine—valued at about ₹1,150 crore—from a Cyprus-flagged cargo vessel, ‘Europe’, anchored off Mundra in Kutch district, officials said.

Seizure at outer anchorage

Acting on specific intelligence, the teams intercepted the ship at the outer anchorage of Mundra Port late on Monday night, according to sources familiar with the probe. As enforcement vessels approached, crew members are reported to have thrown heavy bags overboard. Divers later recovered five floating bags comprising 115 packets of the narcotic, officials said. Four Apple AirTags and two satellite communication devices were also recovered from the vessel.

Crew and suspects

Gujarat ATS officials arrested a Tanzanian crew member, identified as Juma Nasir Omar, from the ship. Omar is reported to have admitted placing the consignment in the engine room in November 2025, according to investigators, saying he acted on the instructions of an overseas handler. A second Tanzanian crew member, named by sources as Ngingite Nassoro Jumanne, jumped into the sea during the raid and a marine search operation is underway.

Separately, the ATS said two men believed to be the intended receivers of the consignment were detained in Delhi during coordinated raids. They have been identified as Kelvin Chukwuma, a Nigerian national, and Byaruhanga James, a Ugandan national. Both are being transferred to Gujarat for questioning and formal charges, officials added.

Route and origin

Preliminary probe indicates the consignment originated in Brazil and moved through a circuitous route that included Mexico, the United States and Karachi before arriving off the Gujarat coast, investigators said. Officials recovered tracking devices and satellite equipment hidden in the steering room, which they said suggests an organised, transnational smuggling chain.

Quantity discrepancy, ongoing searches

Initial intelligence put the quantity at roughly 150 kg, but only 118.98 kg was recovered, prompting authorities to suspect some packets were deliberately discarded during the interception. Joint search-and-recovery sorties by the ATS, Coast Guard and local marine units continue in the adjacent waters to locate any remaining contraband, an official said late evening.

Legal action and probes

A criminal case under relevant narcotics laws has been registered at Mundra police station, and the ATS has taken the lead in the investigation. “We are coordinating with central agencies and international partners to trace the supply chain and handlers,” a senior ATS officer said on condition of anonymity. The National Investigation Agency and customs officials have been informed, sources added.

Local context and impact

Mundra, one of India’s busiest private ports, has seen increased maritime traffic in recent years, which officials say raises the challenge of policing sophisticated smuggling attempts. The seizure is the latest in a series of high-profile drug intercepts along the Gujarat coast that authorities credit to improved intelligence-sharing and stepped-up maritime patrolling.

Reactions from authorities

The Indian Coast Guard described the operation as a coordinated maritime enforcement action that prevented a major narcotics consignment from entering the domestic distribution chain. Gujarat police said the arrests and recoveries were the result of sustained intelligence inputs and targeted action under anti-drug initiatives launched in the state.

What happens next

Investigators will focus on interrogations, forensic analysis of recovered devices and phone records, and international liaison to identify suppliers and handlers. The detained suspects are expected to be produced before a magistrate after medical evaluation and procedural formalities. Meanwhile, marine teams continue to comb the waters near the anchorage for any discarded material.

Related developments

The seizure follows other recent drug busts in Gujarat, including a raid in Vapi that uncovered an alleged MD (mephedrone) manufacturing unit. Authorities say such operations are part of a broader crack-down on organised narcotics networks affecting the state and neighbouring regions.