‘Revival' plan lands 3 fugitives in jail
And the state police's continued intel gathering paid off when the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) in two carefully coordinated operations in Kartnataka and Andhra Pradesh between June 30 and July 10, finally nabbed the trio.
For nearly 30 years, they blended into small-town life under borrowed names. The suspects, originally identified as Tailor Raja, Abu Backer Siddique, and Mohammad Ali, were living under the aliases Shajahan (Vijayapura, Karnataka), Amanullah, and Mansoor (Rayachoti, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh).
ATS officers said they were involved in a series of high-profile crimes, including parcel bombings, coordinated blasts, and targeted killings in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
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Police said the arrests followed specific intelligence that the suspects re-established contact with individuals in TN to revive dormant sleeper cells. An ATS officer said, "The breakthrough came when Siddique, facing severe health issues, attempted to rally a new faction and reignite fundamentalist activities."
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Police, who seized material used to make improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from the suspects' premises, said they maintained a low profile in towns where they were unknown and misled contacts in TN into believing they were hiding in Mumbai.
Siddique and Ali were arrested in Kadapa on June 30, while Raja was arrested in Vijayapura on July 10. ATS sleuths tracked them for more than three months, maintaining undercover surveillance where they lived.
Siddique, once employed in the UAE, possessed 18 mobile phones, including old models dating back two decades.
Siddique and Ali, allegedly involved in the 1995 parcel bomb murder of Thangam Muthukrishnan in Nagapattinam and a foiled parcel bomb attempt in Nagore, were also linked to the 1995 Hindu Munnani office blast in Chennai's Chintadripet, the 1999 serial blasts in Chennai, Trichy, and Coimbatore, the 2011 pipe bomb targeting former Deputy PM L K Advani, and a 2012 murder in Vellore.
Mohammad Ali, identified as one of those behind the 1999 bombing of old Chennai police commissioner's office, was also implicated in the 2013 blast near the BJP office in Malleswaram, Bengaluru.
All three were linked to extremists such as S Fakruddin, Panna Ismail and Bilal Malik.
Tailor Raja, associated with Al-Umma and named in the 1998 Coimbatore serial blasts, moved to Vijayapura, worked as a tailor and later established a vegetable wholesale business. At a press conference on Friday, DGP Shankar Jiwal praised the ATS team and said, "I cannot disclose the operational details or the names of officers involved at this stage." They are expected to be formally charged under multiple provisions of IPC and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
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India Today
2 minutes ago
- India Today
When Congress leaders raised Hindu-terror bogey after Malegaon blasts
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After the verdict, Congress leaders, including former Madhya Pradesh CM and MP Digvijaya Singh, tried to distance the party and its members from having coined the "Hindu terror" was Digvijaya Singh who was one of the first proponents of the "RSS bomb-making factory" theory, linking the outfit to not just Malegaon but several other terror verdict has reopened memories of how the Malegaon case became the springboard for a political narrative that sought to redefine terrorism in BLAST: SPRINGBOARD FOR HINDU TERROR BOGEYIn 2008, it was a Congress-NCP coalition that was in power in the state. The Congress-led UPA was in power at the explosion on September 29, 2008, came during the month of Ramzan, striking a Muslim-majority Maharashtra ATS, led by Hemant Karkare, traced the motorcycle used in the attack to Pragya Singh bike's registration number was fake, its chassis and engine numbers filed off, but forensic labs restored the erased identity and linked it back to Pragya, Lieutenant Colonel Purohit, and several others tied to the obscure organisation Abhinav Bharat were ATS claimed the group conspired to target Muslims, charging them under the IPC, UAPA, and the stringent its massive 4,000-page chargesheet, the ATS portrayed Abhinav Bharat as an organised crime syndicate, and in the process, shifted the language of terror the first time, investigators spoke of right-wing Hindu actors as perpetrators of terror, a sharp departure from the prevailing focus on Islamist was the moment when the phrase "Hindu terror" entered the political lexicon in FIRESTORM ABOUT 'HINDU TERROR' BOGEYadvertisementCongress leader Digvijaya Singh was the first to seize upon the 2008 and 2011, he repeatedly warned of "Hindu terrorism" or "saffron terror," accusing the RSS of running 'bomb-making factories' and linking Hindutva outfits to Malegaon, Ajmer Sharif, and even the Samjhauta Express blasts, according to the New Indian statements provoked outrage, especially when he went so far as to cast doubt on the Batla House encounter and to hint that Hindutva forces had a role in the 26/11 Mumbai 2010, the term had official sanction August that year, Home Minister P Chidambaram told intelligence officers in New Delhi that "saffron terror" was a phenomenon that had been implicated in several bombings, according to The years later, his successor Sushilkumar Shinde sharpened the charge at a Congress conclave in Jaipur, according to declared that the "RSS and BJP are running terror training camps" and accused Hindu organisations of spreading terrorism — a statement that sparked a political US CABLE ON RAHUL GANDHI AND 'HINDU TERROR'Not just in India, the idea of terrorism with Hindutva imprint was discussed by Congress even with top foreign 2010, WikiLeaks made public a secret communication to Washington by then US Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer on his July 20, 2009, conversation with Congress MP Rahul Roemer detailed how Rahul Gandhi told him that "radicalised Hindu groups" were a bigger danger than Islamist terrorist groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).In fact, even UPA-era government officials discussed the issue of "Hindutva terror" with top American months before Rahul's discussion with Roemer, India's then National Security Adviser (NSA), MK Narayanan, on March 3, 2009, spoke about "Hindu extremist groups" with FBI director Robert was revealed by Wikileaks from a leaked US cable filed by US charge d' affairs Steven White on the Narayanan-Mueller matter was raised shortly after the Maharashtra ATS arrested several persons with saffron links for their role in the 2008 Malegaon blast, WikiLeaks revealed."India is also seeing the beginnings of Hindu extremist groups that use violence, Narayanan said, agreeing with the director's point that terrorists came from more than just Muslim backgrounds," according to the leaked US cable from MALEGAON BLAST CASE PROGRESSED?In 2011, the probe was transferred from the ATS to the NIA, which quickly found serious "lacunae" in the earlier 2016, the NIA dropped charges under MCOCA, declaring confessions recorded under the law inadmissible. It also noted that the motorcycle registered in Pragya's name had been with another accused well before the blast, according to The tide began to turn in court. The Bombay High Court granted Pragya bail in 2017, citing lack of evidence, and Lt Col Purohit was released the same year by the Supreme 2018, the NIA court framed charges afresh, but as the trial unfolded, over 300 witnesses were examined and many turned hostile, crippling the prosecution's 2019, even as the trial continued, Pragya contested the Lok Sabha elections from Bhopal on a BJP ticket and won. Her candidature was defended by BJP leaders as a rebuke to what they called the Congress's manufactured 'Hindu terror' years of testimony, the NIA court reserved its verdict in April 2025, and on July 31 delivered its judgment, acquitting all seven July 30, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the Rajya Sabha and directly took on the "Hindu terror" narrative. Here, he was referring to the same Hindutva narrative that had begun after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. It was the arrest of Ajmal Kasab which blew those charges to smithereens and proved Pakistani links to the terror attack in I proudly declare to the world and the people of the country that a Hindu can never be a terrorist. Hindus can never be terrorists," said Congress bogey of "Hindu terror" and "saffron terror" has finally been called by the NIA court.- EndsMust Watch
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First Post
2 minutes ago
- First Post
Malegaon bomb blast case verdict: Who are the 7 accused acquitted by special NIA court?
A special court has acquitted all seven accused, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, in the 2008 Malegaon blast case that killed six people and injured over 100 others. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had arrested the accused, booking them under various sections of the IPC and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). What were the allegations? And why have the accused been acquitted? read more A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Thursday (July 31) acquitted all seven accused, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. The explosion had killed six people and injured 101 others. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had arrested the accused nearly 17 years ago. They were on trial on various charges, including murder and criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What is the case? Who were the accused? And why have they been acquitted? We will explain. 2008 Malegaon blast case On the night of September 29, 2008, a bomb exploded near Bhikku Chowk in Malegaon, a town about 100 km northeast of Nashik in Maharashtra. The deadly explosion took place in the holy month of Ramzan in a Muslim-dominated area. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) initially investigated the case, suspecting that the improvised explosive device (IED) was planted on an LML Freedom motorcycle. In October 2008, the ATS arrested Pragya Singh Thakur alias Sadhwi Poornachetanand Giri, who it said owned the bike used in the blast. It claimed her arrest led to the other accused. A total of 11 people were arrested by November 2008, with the ATS invoking stringent sections of the organised crime law, the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 (MCOCA), against them. Who are the accused? **Pragya Singh Thakur**, an activist of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) hailing from Madhya Pradesh, was accused number 1. Besides alleging that she owns the LML Freedom motorcycle, the ATS claimed she participated in conspiracy meetings, where she agreed to help the people who would execute the plan. The ATS claimed Thakur was connected with another accused, Ramchandra Kalsangra alias Ramji, who it said was using the motorcycle at the time, and had planted the bomb. Thakur was also accused of introducing Ramji and the accused Sandeep Dange to the other co-accused in July 2008, reported Indian Express. Thakur maintained her innocence, saying she was not involved in the conspiracy. She also accused the ATS of illegally detaining and torturing her. Thakur, who claimed she had cancer, was granted bail in April 2017 by the Bombay High Court. In 2019, she successfully contested the Lok Sabha elections on a BJP ticket. She remains a member of the party. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit was accused by the ATS of founding the Abhinav Bharat organisation in 2006. The ATS alleged that funds were collected and the conspiracy was plotted through this group. According to the ATS, Purohit allegedly participated in conspiracy meetings and delivered speeches on the necessity to execute the plan. It also alleged that he had held talks on having a separate constitution and a flag, and explored the idea of forming a government in exile in Israel or Thailand. Purohit's defence was that he took part in the meetings as a Military Intelligence officer to gather intelligence on extremism and create new sources. He also dismissed the ATS' claim that he had procured RDX for the blast during his posting in Jammu & Kashmir. Purohit rejected the allegations through documents from the Ministry of Defence that showed he did not have access to explosives, as per the Indian Express report. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ramesh Upadhyay, a retired Major of the Indian Army, was another accused arrested in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. The ATS claimed that Upadhyay and Purohit had discussed the need for a separate constitution for a 'Hindu Rashtra' in a meeting in Faridabad in 2008. As per the ATS, Upadhyay was the working president of the Abhinav Bharat organisation. Calls between Purohit and Upadhyay were intercepted, which the retired Major claimed violated laws and his personal liberty. Upadhyay also accused the ATS of fabricating evidence and that witnesses had deposed about being forced into implicating him and others. The ATS alleged Ajay Rahirkar, a Pune-based businessman, was the treasurer of Abhinav Bharat. 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In one such meeting in Bhopal in April 2008, the accused are alleged to have decided to take 'revenge' against Muslims through a bomb blast at Malegaon, which has a large Muslim population, as per the Indian Express report. Sameer Kulkarni, a social activist from Pune, was accused of having agreed with the other co-accused to form 'Aryawrat' or Hindu Rashtra and had participated in talks on taking revenge on Muslims. He rejected the allegations and claimed he was illegally detained and arrested by the ATS officials. Kulkarni also claimed evidence tampering. Ramji and Sandeep Dange were never arrested but were named as wanted accused. NIA finds gaps in ATS investigation The Malegaon case was transferred to the NIA in 2011. The accused went to the courts to challenge the invocation of MCOCA against them, under which their confessions were made. The NIA continued its probe, filing a chargesheet on May 13, 2016. The central probe agency dropped charges against the accused under MCOCA, arguing that the manner in which it was invoked was 'questionable'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It said that the ATS probe was filled with 'lacunae'. As per the NIA, the evidence was found only against seven of the 11 accused arrested, along with two wanted accused, Kalsangra and Dange. The trial finally began in 2018. During the hearings, the prosecution presented 323 witnesses, of whom 37 turned hostile. Why the 7 Malegaon accused have been acquitted The special NIA court ruled today that there was 'no reliable and cogent evidence' to convict the seven accused. Special Judge AK Lahoti flagged many loopholes in the prosecution's case and the investigation. 'Mere suspicion cannot take the place of real proof,' the court said, adding that in the lack of any evidence, the accused persons deserve the benefit of doubt. 'The overall evidence does not inspire confidence in the court to convict the accused. There is no reliable and cogent evidence to warrant conviction,' the judge said, as per PTI. The court also ruled that provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) were not applicable. It said that the prosecution's claim that the motorbike used in the blast was registered in Thakur's name was not established. It also said that it was not established that the blast was carried out by the bomb allegedly planted on the bike. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
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First Post
2 minutes ago
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Radical speeches, jihadist sermons: How Bengaluru woman 'spread' Al-Qaeda propaganda on social media
Shama Parveen Ansari, 30, was arrested at her Bengaluru residence by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) for allegedly spreading Al-Qaeda's anti-India propaganda, using social media. The woman, who hails from Jharkhand, has two Facebook pages and an Instagram account with over 10,000 followers read more Shama Parveen Ansari, 30 was allegedly amplifying Al-Qaeda's propaganda through social media. She was arrested by Gujarat ATS. Image courtesy: moneycontrol Shama Parveen Ansari, a 30-year-old woman originally from Jharkhand who had been living in Bengaluru for the past three years, was arrested this week for allegedly spreading extremist content online linked to Al-Qaeda in India. The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested her from her rented flat in Hebbal's Manorayanapalya on Tuesday, following which she was brought to Gujarat on a transit remand. Parveen, 30, who was residing with her younger brother, had no formal employment and lived a quiet, low-profile life, but behind the scenes, she was allegedly amplifying jihadist propaganda through social media. But how did a seemingly ordinary woman from Bengaluru got involved with one of the most dangerous terror networks in the world? and How did the Gujarat ATS track her down? Here's what we know. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How Shama Ansari 'spread' Al-Qaeda propaganda According to the Gujarat ATS, Ansari was using two Facebook pages and an Instagram account with over 10,000 followers to share radical sermons, speeches, and anti-India content inspired by the banned terror outfit Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). Officials claim her posts promoted extremist ideology and called on followers to support jihadist causes. Some of the content was allegedly aimed at inciting violence and creating religious tension. 'She may not have been handling weapons, but she was handling narratives—and that's equally dangerous today,' an ATS officer told The Times of India. Authorities also believe Ansari played an active role in spreading propaganda rather than merely endorsing it. Her digital presence, they say, was part of a larger online ecosystem that amplifies extremist content. The ATS says she was linked to one of the four men arrested in a recent multi-state operation that exposed a broader terror network that allegedly disseminated extremist content, including videos promoting AQIS ideology through social media platforms. She is Shama Parveen, 30 years old Shama completed her graduation.. She was handling social media accounts who were giving information about Al Qaida & influence youths.. She was part of few Pakistani what's app groups.. Today Gujrat ATS arrested her from Banglore.. — Trupti Garg (@garg_trupti) July 30, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, sources told The Print that the group may have been radicalised without ever coming into contact with any active AQIS operatives. The probe is still in its early stages. AQIS was officially formed in September 2014, when then al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri appointed Pakistan-based Asim Umar as its head. The outfit aimed to expand al-Qaeda's reach in the region, with areas like Bangladesh, Myanmar, Assam, Gujarat, and Kashmir marked as their focus zones. Ansari, according to investigators, used social media to circulate calls for an 'armed revolution or jihad' against the Indian government. Following her arrest, she was brought to Gujarat on a transit warrant for further questioning. How the Gujarat ATS tracked her down According to The Print, the case first came to light on June 10, when Gujarat ATS Deputy Superintendent of Police Harsh Upadhyay received intelligence about five Instagram accounts allegedly sharing Al-Qaeda propaganda videos to radicalise youth. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The content on these accounts reportedly included videos promoting Ghazwa-e-Hind, calls for violence against 'non-believers' (kafirs), and even clips featuring Maulana Abdul Aziz of Pakistan's Lal Masjid, urging an armed uprising to dismantle the Indian government. Many of the jihadist propaganda videos had been sourced from two Facebook pages and an Instagram account, believed to be operated by Shama Parveen Ansari. ANI As the investigation progressed, ATS arrested four individuals last week—Fardeen Shaikh from Ahmedabad, Saifulla Qureshi from Modasa (both in Gujarat), Mohammad Faiq from Delhi's Chandni Chowk, and Zeeshan Ali from Noida in Uttar Pradesh. Officials say one of the suspects, Mohammad Faiq, was allegedly working in coordination with Pakistan-based Instagram accounts named 'gujjar_sab.111' and 'M Salauddin Siddiqui 1360' to target the Indian government. One of the devices seized during the raids also reportedly contained AQIS literature calling for jihad in response to 'Operation Sindoor'. During questioning, Faiq allegedly told investigators that many of the propaganda videos had been sourced from two Facebook pages and an Instagram account, believed to be operated by Shama Parveen Ansari. Following this lead, a Gujarat ATS team, working with central agencies and the local police, tracked Ansari to her residence in RT Nagar in Bengaluru and arrested her. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The ATS is now probing the extent of her influence, the reach of her social media content, and whether she was part of a larger network. With input from agencies
