A suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)-linked module in Gujarat conducted around eight explosive trials over nearly three years to perfect improvised explosive device (IED) techniques, according to the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS). The ATS announced the arrest of five additional suspects, bringing the total arrests to 13. These latest arrests followed intensive interrogation of eight previously apprehended individuals in a case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
ATS Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Sunil Joshi revealed that the investigation uncovered a local or “indigenous” module that had allegedly been radicalized over several years through extremist literature and social media. The accused were described as feeling obligated to carry out their alleged duties, irrespective of external circumstances. The module, termed as indigenous, had been learning bomb-making techniques for two to three years by watching social media and studying extremist literature.
According to the ATS, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Harsh Upadhyay received intelligence about youths from Banaskantha and Patan districts being in contact with Jaish-e-Mohammed operatives in Pakistan. The accused were allegedly translating radical content into Gujarati, establishing a local organization named ‘Darul Islam Gujarat’ as a representation of JeM in the state, and attempting to recruit like-minded individuals. The case was registered under various sections of the UAPA and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita based on this information.
