ATS Crackdown: Mumbai Man Arrested in Alleged Plot to Kill RSS, Political Leaders

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a man from Mumbai’s Sakinaka area for allegedly being part of a wider conspiracy to target political leaders and RSS members, while attempting to recruit and train individuals with a radical ideology, establish links with ISIS and other terror groups, and plan activities involving explosives and weapons, officials said.

The individual was identified as Murshid Zahid Akhtar Sheikh, age 21, from Mumbai’s Sakinak area. 

According to Gujarat ATS, while monitoring social media activities against india officers received private information that Irfan Kalekhan Pathan of Siddhpur, Patan has an Islamic fundamentalist ideology and he, along with his friends, has hatched a conspiracy to establish Gajawa-e-Hind in India and create fear by carrying out armed rebellion against the Indian government. And for that, he is preparing to collect weapons and make bombs. Also, he is preparing to form a team by encouraging Muslims from India and outside the country to wage jihad.

However, with immediate effect, a team was formed,  After which Isam Irfan was brought to the ATS office for primary interrogation. During Interrogation ATS found that, Irfan's mobile phone that he was in touch with ISIS and various other people and groups with a radical Islamic mindset through WhatsApp and Instagram and that, together with his associates, they were planning to establish Ghazwa-e-Hind across the country, kill political leaders, people associated with RSS and infidels and implement Sharia by bringing together Mujahideen with the same radical Islamic ideology from various states of the country. 

They were also planning on sending them to camps to train them in making RDX bombs and other types of bombs and operating various weapons, making contact with ISIS and other terror organisations, smuggling weapons from Pakistan and Afghanistan and collecting funds for the above activities and starting terrorist activities across the country.

During further investigation, the ATS found that Mumbai resident Murshid Zahid Akhtar Sheikh was also involved in the case. He was detained with the help of Maharashtra Police and brought in for questioning.

Officials said his phone contained objectionable material and chats linked to the alleged conspiracy with Irfan Pathan. 

However, the accused was arrested and both accused have been remanded to 11 days’ custody, and further investigation is ongoing.