23-04-2025
Al Qaeda-inspired terror module: How Jharkhand-based group was planning terror attacks in India
From alleged weapon procurement in Ranchi to receiving physical training at Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh and weapons training at Bhiwadi on the Rajasthan-Haryana border, the Special Cell chargesheet has outlined how 11 people from different villages of Ranchi allegedly got together to plan a pan-India terror conspiracy, they added.
On Monday, the Special Cell filed a supplementary chargesheet in the case. 'Requisite sanction (under Section) 7 of Explosive Substances Act against accused persons… has been filed by way of supplementary chargesheet,' stated the April 21 order of Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur of Patiala House Court.
'The same is taken on record and be tagged with main chargesheet… So far as sanction (under Section) 45 of UAPA is concerned, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for state submits that all steps to obtain sanction under Section 45 of UAPA have been taken… but the sanction is still awaited,' ASJ Kaur added.
The accused in the case have been identified as Anamul Ansari (32), Shahbaz Ansari (32), Altaf Ansari (35), Hasan Ansari (32), Arshad Khan (26), Umar Farooq (20), Dr Ishtiyaq Ahmad alias Captain (49), Mohd Rizwan (40), Moti-Ur-Rehman (40), Mohd Rahmantulla (30) and Faizan Ahmad (47).
Ishtiyaq Ahmad was radicalised in his college days, said police. 'In 2021, he came in contact with a person on Telegram, using the ID 'Big Cat'. They shared the same ideology regarding Jihad and believed that atrocities are being done on Muslims in India and wanted to avenge the same. 'Big Cat' asked Ahmad through chat to prepare more people physically and mentally to fight for Jihad,' the chargesheet alleged, said officers.
The Special Cell has relied on the statements of protected witnesses, one of whom had said that they were given 'physical training' by the accused who were preparing youngsters for Jihad, they added.
The Special Cell has claimed that the accused would build shelters in secluded places to train young Muslims without being noticed by the police. It added that during the training at Bulandshahr, Ahmad met 'Big Cat' in Delhi and discussed procuring weapons. 'The 'Big Cat' sent an arms dealer to Hazaribagh for a meeting. Accused… finalised the purchase of AK-47 at Rs 5-6 lakh,' it alleged, said officers.
According to the officers, the chargesheet has alleged that the accused stayed at a rented accommodation at Bhiwadi on the Rajasthan-Haryana border. On August 21, last year, they went to a nearby forest where they received 'dummy weapon training'.
They were arrested a day later, the police said, adding that bullets, hand grenades, pistols, rifles and bomb-making material were found on them. 'Local bombs' prepared by the accused with 'the help of gunpowder' were also found, the officers said.
