Gujarat ATS widens JeM terror probe, questions five more in Patan's Siddhpur
Synopsis
Days after arresting eight alleged Jaish-e-Mohammed operatives ahead of Rath Yatra, Gujarat ATS has widened its dragnet to Siddhpur in Patan district, questioning five more individuals and raiding a suspect's home and local commercial areas. The discovery of Gujarati-translated JeM literature and letters to Masood Azhar points to a calculated, localised radicalisation effort — and the probe shows no sign of closing.
Key Takeaways
The Gujarat ATS questioned around five more individuals in Siddhpur, Patan district on 14 July over suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) links.
Searches were conducted at the residence of accused Mohammad Amin Shera in Chatavada village and at commercial areas in Japalipol , Siddhpur.
No fresh arrests have been announced; the five individuals were brought in for questioning only.
The probe follows the earlier arrest of eight alleged operatives from Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh , accused of forming 'Darul Islam Gujarat Jaish-e-Mohammed' .
Recovered material includes a JeM flag , Urdu letters to Masood Azhar , and JeM literature translated into Gujarati ; the group allegedly received ₹3 lakh in funding.
All eight earlier accused are booked under the UAPA and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita .
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has widened its investigation into the alleged Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) network in the state, questioning around five more individuals in Siddhpur, Patan district, on 14 July after fresh leads emerged from an ongoing probe. The latest round of questioning follows the arrest of eight alleged operatives ahead of the annual Rath Yatra festival.
Fresh Searches in Siddhpur
ATS teams conducted searches at the residence of accused Mohammad Amin Shera in Chatavada village, Siddhpur taluka, questioning family members and examining the premises. Investigators also fanned out to commercial areas, including Japalipol in Siddhpur, to question local traders in an effort to trace allegedly suspicious items purchased by Shera.
The searches and questioning continued until late evening, with officials probing possible connections to other individuals in the area. An official associated with the investigation said, 'We are following up on our intelligence inputs and carrying out the investigation. At present, these individuals have been brought in only for the purpose of questioning.' No fresh arrests have been announced in connection with this latest round.
Background: The Original Eight Arrests
The current widening of the probe stems from the ATS's earlier coordinated raids across Banaskantha, Patan, Navsari, and Dewas districts in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, during which seven individuals were arrested in Gujarat and one from Madhya Pradesh. The agency alleged that the group was attempting to establish an active network of the Pakistan-based banned terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed in Gujarat.
According to investigators, the accused had formed an organisation called 'Darul Islam Gujarat Jaish-e-Mohammed' and were allegedly in contact with Pakistani handlers identified as Abdullah and Mohammad Umar. The group allegedly translated JeM literature into Gujarati to propagate the outfit's ideology, recruited members, and reportedly received around ₹3 lakh in funding.
Evidence Recovered
During the earlier searches, the ATS claimed to have seized significant digital material linked to the banned outfit, including literature, audio and video files, a JeM flag, and Urdu letters addressed to the terror outfit's founder Masood Azhar. The recovery of Gujarati-translated JeM material is particularly notable, suggesting a deliberate localisation strategy to expand the group's reach.
Legal Action and Charges
The eight accused have been booked under multiple provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), covering offences relating to unlawful activities, raising funds for terrorist acts, conspiracy, membership of a terrorist organisation, and support to a terrorist organisation, alongside relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). They were remanded to ATS custody as the investigation continues.
This is the most significant alleged JeM network disruption in Gujarat in recent years, and the Siddhpur angle suggests the probe may yet yield further arrests as investigators trace the network's deeper roots.
Point of View
Not just ideological sympathisers. With Pakistani handlers named and a formal organisational structure alleged, this is not a lone-wolf case — and the fact that five more individuals are being questioned days after the initial eight arrests indicates the network's edges are still being mapped.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Gujarat ATS questioning more people in Siddhpur?
The ATS is questioning around five more individuals in Siddhpur, Patan district, after fresh leads emerged suggesting the alleged Jaish-e-Mohammed network had deeper roots in the area. Investigators searched the home of accused Mohammad Amin Shera and questioned traders at local commercial areas to trace allegedly suspicious purchases.
Who were the eight individuals arrested by Gujarat ATS earlier?
The ATS arrested eight individuals — seven from Gujarat and one from Madhya Pradesh — during coordinated raids in Banaskantha, Patan, Navsari, and Dewas districts. They are accused of attempting to establish an active Jaish-e-Mohammed network in Gujarat under the name 'Darul Islam Gujarat Jaish-e-Mohammed'.
What evidence did the ATS recover during earlier searches?
The ATS claims to have recovered digital material including JeM literature, audio and video files, a JeM flag, and Urdu letters addressed to the outfit's founder Masood Azhar. Investigators also allege the group translated JeM literature into Gujarati and received around ₹3 lakh in funding from Pakistani handlers.
What charges have been filed against the eight accused?
The eight accused have been booked under multiple provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), covering unlawful activities, raising funds for terrorist acts, conspiracy, membership of a terrorist organisation, and support to a terrorist organisation, along with relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Have any fresh arrests been made in the latest round of questioning?
No. As of 14 July, the Gujarat ATS has not announced any fresh arrests in connection with the latest questioning in Siddhpur. Officials confirmed the five individuals were brought in solely for questioning based on intelligence inputs.
