The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad has arrested 30-year-old Shama Parveen from Bengaluru for allegedly heading a terror module linked to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent. Officials identified her as the main handler coordinating the module’s operations from Karnataka.
Her arrest comes after four men were taken into custody on July 23 from Gujarat, Delhi, and Noida. The suspects, aged between 20 and 25, have been identified as Mohd Fardeen, Sefullah Kureshi, Zeeshan Ali, and Mohd Faiq. According to investigators, they were communicating via a social media platform and had been assigned to target prominent locations across India.
Authorities believe the group had cross-border connections and was in contact with handlers based outside India. Preliminary findings suggest they were planning coordinated terror attacks and may have been part of a larger network.
The arrest gains further significance in the backdrop of a recent United Nations report. The 32nd report by the UN Security Council’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team has warned of AQIS efforts to expand its footprint in the Indian subcontinent. Under the leadership of Osama Mehmood, the group is reportedly increasing its presence in regions such as Jammu and Kashmir, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
The Gujarat ATS is continuing its investigation to uncover the full extent of the network’s operations and its links to global terror outfits.
