In a significant operation, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested a 30-year-old woman, Shama Parveen, from Bengaluru for her alleged leadership role in a terror module linked to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). Officials believe she was coordinating the module’s activities remotely from Karnataka, managing its digital propaganda and operational planning.
Her capture follows the earlier arrest of four men from different states—including Gujarat, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh—who were found sharing extremist content on Instagram. These individuals were allegedly connected through encrypted platforms and were engaged in circulating radical material encouraging violence and jihadist ideology.
According to sources, Parveen was the main handler of the module, guiding its members and distributing ideological material online. Her electronic devices, seized during the arrest, revealed contacts based in Pakistan, strengthening suspicions of cross-border involvement.
“Gujarat ATS had arrested 4 AQIS (Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent) terrorists earlier… Yesterday, a woman from Bengaluru was arrested. She is highly radicalised and ran an online terror module. Important Pakistani contacts have been recovered from her electronic devices,” said Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi.
Four Youths Linked to Online Radical Campaign Apprehended
The initial breakthrough came in July when four individuals—Mohammed Faiq, Mohammed Fardeen, Saifullah Qureshi, and Zeeshan Ali—were arrested from different cities. The suspects were aged between 20 and 25 and operated social media accounts designed to promote Al-Qaeda’s ideology and provoke communal unrest in India.
The ATS had received intelligence reports in early June about suspicious Instagram handles such as @sharyat_ya_shahadat, @_mujahideen1, and @sefullah_muja_hid313. These accounts were reportedly used to disseminate extremist content, including support for Sharia law, anti-national sentiments, and threats aimed at destabilising Indian society.
Digital Evidence Points to Terror Agenda
A detailed digital forensic investigation led to the recovery of violent content from the accused’s devices. Videos glorifying past terrorists, including one where Fardeen Sheikh is seen wielding a sword and shouting, “Bas yehi kami thi, ab sab pura ho gaya… Allahu Akbar!”, were found.
Investigators also uncovered that Mohammed Faiq had maintained online ties with Instagram users in Pakistan, under handles like @gujjar_sab.111, indicating a potential transnational network.
Authorities believe the suspects were not just spreading propaganda but were allegedly tasked with targeted attacks across India. Plans were reportedly being shaped in coordination with external handlers.
UN Report Signals Broader Threat
The crackdown coincides with warnings from a recent United Nations Security Council report, which suggests Al-Qaeda is actively working to expand its network across India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Kashmir. The group’s regional operations are reportedly being supervised by AQIS emir Osama Mehmood, who has focused recruitment and communication strategies online.
Legal Proceedings Underway
All five arrested individuals, including Parveen, have been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), specifically targeting terrorist activities and inciting group violence. Charges include acts threatening national integrity and promoting hostility between communities.
The ATS is now investigating over 60 more social media accounts, potentially connected to the same radical network.
