Delhi Police and Jharkhand ATS Capture Suspected Al Qaeda Operative in Ranchi
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Ranchi, Jan 10 (NationPress) In a coordinated operation, the Delhi Police's Special Cell and the Jharkhand Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) have taken into custody Shahbaz Ansari, an alleged operative of Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), following a raid in the Chanho police station area of Ranchi on Friday, as reported by officials.
Ansari is currently being prepared for transfer to Delhi for further interrogation.
This apprehension is a continuation of an operation conducted in August 2023, wherein eight individuals linked to AQIS were captured in both Jharkhand and Rajasthan. Those detained included Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed, a radiologist from Jamshedpur, Mohammad Faizan from Hazaribagh, alongside three residents of Rajasthan: Inamul Ansari, Motiur Rahman, and Altaf Ansari.
Ansari had been on the run since that operation and was considered a wanted suspect.
The August raid revealed AQIS's intentions to broaden its influence across various Indian states, notably Jharkhand. Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed emerged as a central figure in this endeavor, reportedly leading the formation of the Ranchi Radical Group (RRG), which sought to radicalize and recruit individuals for suicide missions.
Ansari was believed to be an active member of this module but managed to evade law enforcement during the prior crackdown.
The group had set up a training camp in a secluded, hilly forest region close to Ranchi, where recruits were groomed for extremist operations.
Authorities seized substantial evidence during these operations, including documents and electronic devices. Initial evaluations indicated the group's goals, which involved extending AQIS’s network throughout India.
Additionally, they were focused on radicalizing and enlisting youth, advocating for the implementation of Sharia law in India, strategizing terrorist acts in major cities like Delhi, and preparing for operations against neighboring Bangladesh.
AQIS serves as a regional affiliate of Al Qaeda, active across Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. The organization has engaged in various terrorist activities and plots that pose significant threats to regional stability and security.
Authorities are ramping up efforts to dismantle AQIS networks and thwart further radicalization attempts targeting vulnerable individuals.
Investigations into Ansari’s affiliations and connections are presently underway.
