Gujarat ATS arrests UP tailor from Navsari for ‘terror conspiracy’, weapon possession

Salmani, 22, a resident of Rampur, UP, was arrested in Navsari on January 25. He was  produced before a local court which sent him to 12-day police remand. He was brought to the ATS headquarters in Ahmedabad on January 26, the ATS said. Salmani was booked under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Arms Act.

“His primary motive was to identify and carry out targeted killings of those who allegedly insulted the Prophet. Primary investigation reveals that Faizan Shakil Salmani and Mohammed Abu Bakar, a wanted accused, conspired to wage war against the Government of India and incite violence. Inspired by terrorist organisations such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Al-Qaeda, they planned to spread terror within a specific community. They also attempted to incite people towards armed rebellion and Jihad to separate Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh from the Union of India,” said an ATS statement.

“DySP Harsh Upadhyay received confidential information that Faizan, originally a native of Dundawala, Rampur district (Uttar Pradesh) and currently working as a tailor in the Zarakwad area of Navsari, had hatched a conspiracy. The plot involved attacking and killing certain well-known youths in UP with weapons to spread terror, as well as conspiring to separate Kashmir from India through Jihad,” Joshi said.

Based on the information, officials conducted a technical analysis during which a suspicious Instagram profile used by Faizan, ‘al.faizangaza’, was identified.  Subsequently, a joint team led by DySP Harsh Upadhyay conducted a raid and apprehended the suspect, who was then taken to the  office of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Navsari Police for interrogation.

Literature supporting the ideology of banned terrorist organisations JeM and Al-Qaeda was found from his phone, the ATS said.

The ATS said it recovered “29 pages of literature containing highly objectionable content inciting Jihad” and  literature titled ‘Why Al-Qaeda?’, aimed at attracting recruits to banned organisations.

“During interrogation, Faizan revealed he had been in contact with Mohammed Abu Bakar for the last 6-7 months via WhatsApp, Instagram and Telegram. About three months ago, he joined a group via his Instagram ID ‘al.faizangaza’. In this group, photos and names of individuals who allegedly made remarks on the Prophet were circulated with instigation to kill them. Faizan forwarded this to others and conspired to kill them,” the ATS said.

Further investigation is underway.