In a significant counter-terrorism operation, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has apprehended three individuals allegedly linked to ISIS-inspired modules, who were planning attacks across India. The arrests occurred on Friday, November 8, near Adalaj in Gandhinagar, following a year-long surveillance operation.
The suspects have been identified as Dr. Ahmed Mohiuddin Syed, 35, a medical practitioner from Hyderabad; Azad Suleman Sheikh, 20, a tailor from Shamli district in Uttar Pradesh; and Mohammad Suhail Mohammad Salim Khan, 23, a student from Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh.
According to officials, the three men were on the ATS radar for over a year. They are believed to be part of two different modules with links to international terror outfits. The Gujarat ATS stated that the suspects had come to Gujarat to exchange weapons and were planning attacks at multiple locations throughout the country. Investigations are ongoing to identify potential targets and locations.
"They had come to Gujarat to exchange weapons. They planned to carry out terrorist attacks in India. All three had been under the surveillance of Gujarat ATS for nearly a year," a senior ATS officer said.
Dr. Syed, who had obtained an MBBS degree in China, was allegedly in the process of preparing Ricin, a highly lethal chemical poison that can be synthesized from castor beans waste. He was reportedly in contact with several foreign individuals, including one with a Telegram ID, Abu Khadeja, purportedly associated with the Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISKP).
The ATS also recovered a cache of arms from the suspects, including two Glock pistols, one Beretta pistol, 30 live cartridges, and 4 liters of castor oil. The weapons are believed to have been smuggled from across the Pakistan border, with some possibly supplied via drones. The suspects reportedly received weapons from Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, and came to Gujarat to deliver them as a consignment.
Based on the findings, the ATS has registered a case, and the accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Arms Act. Syed was produced before a local court and has been remanded in ATS custody until November 17, 2025.
In July of this year, the Gujarat ATS arrested five members of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), including a woman from Bengaluru who operated an online terror module linked to Pakistani handlers. The suspects were accused of promoting AQIS ideology on social media and inciting violence.
