The ATS has registered a case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) to delve into the conspiracy of Al-Sufa in Maharashtra
Representative images
Maharashtra's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has made a crucial arrest in connection with the investigation into the Al-Sufa terror outfit, said officers. The third suspect, identified as Abdul Kadir, 40, was apprehended from Gondia for allegedly providing shelter to two individuals arrested in the case previously.
Kadir was produced before the local court, which remanded him in ATS custody for further investigation.
ADVERTISEMENT
The breakthrough came after the Pune police arrested two individuals—Mohammed Imran alias Mohammed Yunus Khan, 23, and Mohammed Yunus Mohammed Yakub Saki, 24,— suspected of stealing a bike. Subsequently, they were found to be wanted fugitives in a case being handled by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Rajasthan. A third person with the duo had escaped and the police are looking for him, officers said.
ATS sources said the arrested individuals were planning various terror activities and are associated with Al-Sufa, based in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh. During the arrest, the ATS seized explosives, drone-related equipment, laptops and incriminating books written in Arabic. The ATS suspects that the accused were planning to carry out terror attacks using the motorcycle. The ATS has registered a case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) to delve into the conspiracy of Al-Sufa in Maharashtra.
Trial blasts
Both Khan and Saki, who hail from Ratlam, are currently in police custody. The NIA had declared a reward of R5 lakh for their capture in 2022. Further investigation revealed that these individuals had been using a tent to stay hidden in jungles while conducting trial blasts. Authorities are actively investigating the plans of the accused and are also on the lookout for other wanted individuals associated with them.
The NIA case
The terror conspiracy involved targeting BJP leaders and RSS members. In light of the probe revealing the involvement of certain Indian Mujahideen leaders based in Karachi, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had transferred the case to the NIA. The organisation was found to be using the Internet to radicalise youngsters from Rajasthan.
“The recent developments in the Al-Sufa probe underline the importance of heightened vigilance and collaboration between intelligence agencies to combat terrorism in the region,” a source from ATS said.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
