Did Maha ATS Raid Teacher’s Home in Mumbra Over Suspected Al-Qaeda Ties?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Raids conducted by ATS target suspected terrorist ties.
- Teacher Ibrahim Abidi under investigation for extremist influence.
- Ongoing inquiries relate to previous AQIS cases.
- Security measures heightened nationwide following recent threats.
- Family of suspect Azad demands fair investigation.
Mumbai, Nov 12 (NationPress) The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) executed raids on Wednesday at the home of a teacher named Ibrahim Abidi in the Kausa locality of Mumbra, Thane district, regarding potential connections to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).
Officials indicate that Abidi resided in a rented accommodation in Mumbra Kausa and conducted Urdu classes at a mosque in Kurla every Sunday.
The ATS also searched the home of Abidi's second wife in Kurla as part of this ongoing investigation. Authorities suspect that Abidi might have been steering children towards extremist ideologies. During the operations, several electronic devices were confiscated and are currently undergoing forensic analysis to uncover any links to terrorist organizations.
The ATS stated that these searches are connected to the ongoing inquiry into the Pune AQIS case, where a software engineer had previously been arrested for purported affiliations with the designated terrorist group. Suspicious literature and digital evidence had been retrieved from the accused earlier.
In a prior incident, the ATS detained Zubair Ilyas Hungargekar from Pune for allegedly advocating jihad in favor of AQIS, actions perceived as threatening the nation’s unity and safety.
Following a recent car explosion in Delhi, both Central and state security agencies have heightened their alert levels. Security measures have been reinforced at various sensitive sites, with investigative units amplifying their surveillance to thwart any potential threats or incidents.
On November 9, the Gujarat ATS arrested three individuals associated with ISIS in Ahmedabad for allegedly plotting terrorist attacks across India.
According to officials, the suspects—identified as Ahmed Mohiuddin Syed, Mohammad Suhel, and Azad—had been monitored for nearly a year and were apprehended while attempting to procure weapons. The agency reported that the group was strategizing to exchange arms and execute attacks at various locations nationwide. Investigations are ongoing to pinpoint their potential targets and collaborators.
On November 10, one of those apprehended, Azad, was identified as a resident of Jhinjhana in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district. His family has denied any awareness of his alleged connections to terrorist entities and is advocating for a fair and transparent inquiry.