Gujarat ATS Busts Major Terror Plot, Arrests UP Man Linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed

Navsari, Gujarat: In a significant anti-terror operation, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has foiled a major terrorist conspiracy by arresting 22-year-old Faizan Sheikh, a native of Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. The accused is alleged to have been involved in anti-national activities and plotting targeted killings.

According to ATS Deputy SP Harsh Upadhyay, the action was taken on Tuesday following credible intelligence about Faizan’s involvement in extremist activities. Sheikh, who worked as a tailor in Navsari and resided near Aksa Mosque, was reportedly in contact with a Pakistan-based handler, Mohammad Abu Bakar. He was using social media platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram to propagate extremist ideologies.

Investigations revealed that Sheikh was inspired by banned organizations such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Al-Qaeda. His alleged plans included killing individuals accused of insulting the Prophet, spreading terror, and conspiring to separate Kashmir from India.

During the raid, authorities seized several incendiary materials from Sheikh’s mobile phone, including images of the Red Fort with black Islamic flags, maps showing a separate Kashmir, death threats against prominent figures in Delhi, and extremist propaganda videos linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizb-ut-Tahrir. Sheikh had also marked certain individuals for targeted attacks.

A pistol with six live cartridges and a 29-page pamphlet in Arabic-Urdu inciting youth to join jihad were recovered during the operation. Interrogation revealed that Sheikh had been in contact with Abu Bakar for six to seven months and joined an extremist group three months ago. The weapon had been procured in Uttar Pradesh six months earlier.

The accused has been taken to the Navsari Special Operations Group (SOG) office. ATS officials, along with local police, are continuing investigations to identify Sheikh’s associates and handlers. This arrest underscores Gujarat ATS’s vigilant efforts to prevent terrorist activities and safeguard national security.