New Delhi: In a multi-city crackdown, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested four men suspected of having ties with al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), a banned terror organization. The arrests followed a coordinated intelligence-led operation, officials confirmed.
Those detained include Fardeen Shaikh from Ahmedabad, Mohd Faiq of Delhi, Zeeshan Ali from Noida (Uttar Pradesh), and Saifullah Qureshi of Modasa in Gujarat’s Aravalli district. Authorities allege the accused were promoting AQIS ideology and distributing radical propaganda aimed at recruitment and indoctrination.
ATS DIG Sunil Joshi stated the probe began after DySP Harsh Upadhyay received a tip on June 10 regarding five Instagram handles circulating extremist content. “The posts were communal, anti-democracy, and anti-India,” he said. A cyber monitoring team traced the activity and began surveillance on the suspects.
Fardeen Shaikh was found with a sword and documents titled ‘Operation Sindoor’, allegedly containing pro-Pakistan and anti-India narratives. Meanwhile, Mohd Faiq reportedly had regular interactions with Pakistani Instagram accounts supplying jihadi materials.
The group is said to have operated multiple social media channels promoting Sharia law over democratic governance in India. Substantial digital data was seized during the arrests.
An FIR has been lodged under UAPA Sections 13, 18, 38, 39, along with BNS Sections 113, 152, 196, 68. Fardeen and Saifullah have been remanded for 14 days, while Faiq and Zeeshan will be presented in court today.
Saifullah’s brother, Ameen, expressed shock, saying, “He worked long hours at a furniture company and kept to himself.”