Ahmedabad, July 24 — In a significant counter-terrorism operation, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested four individuals allegedly linked to a terror module of the banned extremist group Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). The arrests were made from four different cities spanning Gujarat, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, marking a critical step in dismantling a digital network of radicalization and propaganda aimed at destabilizing the country.
Operation Triggered by Instagram-Based Intelligence
According to the ATS, the operation was launched after Deputy Superintendent of Police Harsh Upadhyay received actionable intelligence on June 10, 2025, about five Instagram accounts suspected of being used to spread anti-national and radical Islamic propaganda.
These accounts were allegedly promoting content intended to provoke communal unrest, encourage terrorist sympathies among local youth, and incite armed violence under the banner of ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind’, a term used by radical elements to describe an apocalyptic war against India.
Digital Footprints Led to Key Suspects
A special investigative team was constituted to track the origins and operators of these suspicious social media handles. After thorough cyber forensic analysis and intelligence sharing with central and state security agencies, the Gujarat ATS zeroed in on four key suspects:
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Mohammad Fardeen, son of Mohammad Raees, a resident of Gulmohar Tenements, Fatehwadi, Ahmedabad, who operated the Instagram handle ‘f4rdeen_03’.
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Mohammad Faiq, son of Mohammad Rizwan, residing in Meer Madari Galli, Faraskhana, Delhi, managed the account ‘sharyat_ya_shahadat’.
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Zeeshan Ali, son of Asif Ali, hailing from Chhajrasi Colony, Sector 63, Noida (U.P.), was linked to accounts ‘_mujahideen1’ and ‘mujahideen 3’.
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Sefullah Kureshi, son of Mahammed Rafik, a resident of Khatakiwada near Bhoi Wada, Modasa, Aravalli district, Gujarat, was running the account ‘sefullah_muja_hid313’.
Coordinated Arrests Across States
The Gujarat ATS formed four specialized teams, which executed the arrests between July 21 and 22, with logistical and operational support from the Delhi Police Special Cell, Uttar Pradesh ATS, and central intelligence agencies. All four accused were apprehended without resistance, and their electronic devices and belongings were seized for forensic examination.
Seized Evidence and Violent Propaganda
Investigators uncovered disturbing materials during the search operations. From Mohammad Fardeen, officers recovered a sword and AQIS literature explicitly calling for Jihad against India, allegedly in retaliation for Operation Sindoor, a recent Indian security crackdown. A video retrieved from his phone depicted him waving the sword and chanting religious slogans, declaring, “This was the only thing missing, now it’s complete. Allahu Akbar.”
Other digital content seized included videos glorifying AQIS ideology, fatwas encouraging violence, and calls for armed rebellion under the extremist campaign of Ghazwa-e-Hind. These were disseminated through Instagram posts, reels, and encrypted messages.
Collaboration With Foreign Accounts
The ATS also found that Mohammad Faiq had allegedly been collaborating with Pakistan-based Instagram accounts, including ‘gujjar_sab.111’ and ‘M Salauddin Siddiqui 1360’, to amplify jihadist narratives and foment anti-India sentiment online.
Legal Proceedings Underway
In light of the evidence, the Gujarat ATS has filed a case under multiple sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). All four accused have been remanded to 14 days of police custody by a local court to enable further interrogation and evidence collection.
Authorities have also launched a deeper probe into the network of digital radicalization, with 25 additional Instagram accounts identified for investigation and 62 more currently under surveillance. Officials believe that these social media handles form a broader ecosystem of online indoctrination and recruitment, being actively monitored by terror operatives to radicalize Indian youth.
National Security at Stake
A senior ATS official said,
“This operation has revealed how terrorist organizations like AQIS are adapting to digital platforms to infiltrate our society and manipulate impressionable minds. Social media has become their new battlefield, and this case demonstrates the importance of early cyber intelligence in safeguarding national security.”