Gujarat ATS Arrests 22-Year-Old in Navsari for Alleged Terror Plot and Weapons Possession
In a significant joint operation, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and Navsari police apprehended a 22-year-old man from Navsari on Monday. The arrest was made on charges of allegedly collecting weapons and extremist material with the intent to carry out targeted killings and promote anti-national activities, reportedly inspired by banned terrorist organizations.
Details of the Accused and Operation
The accused has been identified as Faizan Salmani, who currently resides near Aqsa Masjid in the Zarakwad area of Navsari. Originally hailing from Narpatnagar village, Dundawala post, Suar tehsil, Rampur district of Uttar Pradesh, Salmani worked as a tailor in Navsari. The operation was initiated after DySP Harsh Upadhyay received specific intelligence indicating that Faizan had conspired to attack and kill certain individuals in Uttar Pradesh to spread terror.
According to ATS officials, the intelligence further suggested that the accused was actively propagating jihadist ideology and conspiring to separate Jammu & Kashmir from India through armed struggle. Based on this information, senior ATS officers ordered a discreet technical and field investigation. During the analysis, officials identified a suspicious Instagram account allegedly operated by Faizan. Surveillance and verification by ATS teams confirmed his location in Navsari, leading to a joint raid.
Recovery of Evidence and Interrogation
A joint team led by Upadhyay, along with ATS officers and Navsari police personnel, conducted the raid and apprehended Faizan. He was subsequently brought to the Navsari SOG office for interrogation. During the examination of his mobile phone, ATS recovered a large volume of inflammatory digital material supporting banned terrorist organizations, including Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) and al-Qaida (AQ).
The recovered data included:
- Edited images of national landmarks with extremist symbols
- Maps portraying India under occupation narratives
- Messages threatening violence against individuals accused of insulting the Prophet
Investigators also discovered chats with an individual identified as "Mohammed Abu Bakar", who is believed to be absconding. These chats allegedly contained propaganda videos of JeM, radical speeches in Urdu, and videos linked to terrorist ideologue Farhatullah Ghori. Officials stated that the accused had been in contact with Abu Bakar for the last 6 to 7 months through platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram.
Confession and Legal Actions
During interrogation, Faizan confessed to procuring a pistol and six live cartridges approximately six months ago from an unknown person in Uttar Pradesh. He allegedly informed investigators that the weapon was intended for targeted killings of individuals whose names and photographs had been circulated in extremist groups.
ATS officials indicated that preliminary findings suggest Faizan, along with his handler, conspired to wage war against the government of India, incite violence, and radicalize youth by promoting jihad. Consequently, he has been booked under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and the Arms Act. The accused was presented before a local court and has been remanded to 12-day police custody for further investigation.
This arrest underscores the ongoing efforts by security agencies to combat terrorism and prevent radicalization activities in the region. The case highlights the importance of vigilance and intelligence-sharing in thwarting potential threats to national security.
