The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has made a significant arrest in a terror conspiracy case, apprehending a man from Uttar Pradesh who was residing in Navsari city. The accused, identified as Faizan Shakil Salmani, was taken into custody on allegations of plotting targeted killings and possessing an illegal firearm.
Details of the Arrest and Investigation
Salmani, a 22-year-old resident of Rampur in Uttar Pradesh, was arrested in Navsari on January 25. He has been working as a tailor in the Zarakwad area of Navsari for the past three to four years. Following his arrest, he was produced before a local court, which granted the police a 12-day remand. Subsequently, he was brought to the ATS headquarters in Ahmedabad on January 26 for further interrogation.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
The ATS has booked Salmani under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and the Arms Act. These charges stem from his alleged involvement in a terror conspiracy aimed at inciting violence and waging war against the Government of India.
Recovery of Incriminating Evidence
During the investigation, the ATS seized an Indian-made pistol and six live rounds from Salmani's possession. He confessed to purchasing the firearm and cartridges approximately six months ago from an unidentified individual in his native Uttar Pradesh.
In addition to the weapon, authorities recovered digital and physical literature that supported the ideologies of banned terrorist organizations. This included 29 pages of material containing highly objectionable content that incited Jihad, as well as a document titled 'Why Al-Qaeda?', which was aimed at recruiting individuals to these prohibited groups.
Links to Banned Organizations
The ATS revealed that Salmani was inspired by terrorist entities such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Al-Qaeda. He had been in contact with Mohammed Abu Bakar, a wanted accused, for the last six to seven months via messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram. Their conspiracy involved plans to spread terror within specific communities and incite armed rebellion.
Motivation and Conspiracy Details
According to the ATS, Salmani's primary motive was to identify and carry out targeted killings of individuals who had allegedly made derogatory remarks about the Prophet. The investigation uncovered that he and his accomplice conspired to separate Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh from India through Jihad and violence.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Harsh Upadhyay received confidential information about Salmani's activities, leading to a technical analysis that identified a suspicious Instagram profile, 'al.faizangaza', used by the accused. A joint team then conducted a raid, apprehending Salmani and taking him to the Special Operations Group (SOG) office in Navsari for questioning.
Digital Evidence and Interrogation Findings
During interrogation, Salmani admitted to joining a group via his Instagram ID about three months ago. In this group, photos and names of individuals who had insulted the Prophet were circulated, with instigations to kill them. Salmani forwarded this information to others and conspired to execute these killings as part of a broader terror plot.
The ATS described Salmani as a 'lone wolf' actor, emphasizing his independent yet dangerous intentions. Further investigation is currently underway to uncover additional details and potential links in this case.
