In a major counterterrorism breakthrough, Gujarat’s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested four individuals in Ahmedabad on Wednesday for their alleged links to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), a banned terrorist organisation.
The ATS confirmed that the suspects were detained based on intelligence inputs and are believed to be part of a broader network attempting to expand AQIS influence within India. Further details on the nature of the plot and the suspects’ backgrounds are expected to be disclosed later in the day.
This arrest comes amid growing concerns about radicalisation and terror recruitment in various Indian states. Just last year, in August 2024, a significant AQIS-inspired terror module was dismantled in a coordinated operation led by the Delhi Police in collaboration with security agencies in Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. That operation led to the arrest of 14 individuals allegedly plotting high-profile terrorist strikes.
According to the Delhi Police, the module was being led by Dr Ishtiyaq from Ranchi, Jharkhand. The group reportedly aimed to declare a so-called “Khilafat” and was engaged in advanced weapons training and radical indoctrination. Six individuals were apprehended during a weapons training session in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, while eight others were arrested from Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. Authorities also recovered arms, ammunition, and extremist literature during the operation.
The Gujarat ATS is now investigating whether the newly arrested suspects are connected to or inspired by the same ideological network dismantled last year. Security agencies are expected to intensify their vigilance across key states in light of the latest arrests.
