The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), with the assistance of Maharashtra Police, carried out a major operation in Badlapur West on Monday and arrested 25-year-old Dr. Osama Maj Sheikh.
According to officials, Dr. Sheikh had been practicing at a private hospital in Badlapur under the guise of a medical professional while allegedly conspiring against the Indian state and attempting to disrupt communal harmony in the country.
The UP ATS stated that Sheikh’s arrest came after receiving serious and sensitive intelligence against him. A resident of Badlapur village in Maharashtra’s Thane district, Sheikh was produced before a court in Ulhasnagar for transit remand and has since been taken to Uttar Pradesh for further investigation.
According to the ATS, their surveillance of anti-national elements led them to a WhatsApp group named “Reviving Islam,” which had around 400 Pakistani members, including three administrators. One of the numbers linked to this group was traced to Uttar Pradesh.
The number belonged to a man named Ajmal Ali from Amroha. The ATS discovered that Ali was spreading radical ideology and anti-national sentiments against non-Muslims through various social media platforms. When summoned for questioning, Ajmal reportedly confessed to his involvement and revealed that he was in touch with several Pakistani individuals on multiple platforms.
Ali also admitted to being in regular contact with Dr. Osama Maj Sheikh through Instagram and Signal. He regarded Sheikh as his mentor and senior. The two allegedly engaged in anti-India conversations, including discussions about toppling the democratically elected government and establishing Sharia law in India.
Following this revelation, the ATS registered a case on August 1 and arrested Ajmal, Subsequently, Dr. Sheikh was taken into custody on Monday.
According to the UP ATS, both accused were in contact with multiple Pakistani nationals via social media and aimed to instigate a violent jihad in India with the objective of establishing “Ghazwa-e-Hind” and enforcing Sharia law. They were allegedly radicalising young Muslims, inciting anger against non-Muslims, and motivating them to participate in anti-national criminal activities.
