Ahmedabad: In a major breakthrough, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested three men, including a doctor, for allegedly conspiring to execute a large-scale terrorist attack involving firearms and toxic chemicals. Officials revealed the arrests followed a highly coordinated operation based on intelligence inputs.
The detainees were identified as Dr. Ahmed Mohiyuddin Saiyed from Hyderabad in Telangana and two residents of Uttar Pradesh Azad Suleman Sheikh and Mohammad Suhail Mohammad Saleem. According to Gujarat ATS DIG Sunil Joshi, the trio had planned to conduct a terror strike using a deadly poison, ricin, while attempting to exchange weapons in Gujarat.
Arms and Chemicals Seized in Operation
Acting on a tip-off, the ATS intercepted Dr. Saiyed near Adalaj in Gandhinagar on November 7. Authorities seized two Glock pistols, one Beretta pistol, 30 live cartridges, and around four litres of castor oil, used for producing ricin. During interrogation, Saiyed confessed to collecting the weapons from an isolated location in Kalol, Gandhinagar district.
Investigators said Saiyed’s handler, identified as Abu Khadija from Afghanistan, is linked to the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). Saiyed, an MBBS graduate from China, had allegedly begun developing the poison and gathered necessary lab materials for chemical processing.
DIG Sunil Joshi stated that the accused was deeply radicalised and intended to recruit associates and raise funds for terror operations. His activities were traced through data recovered from his mobile phone, leading to the arrest of his two alleged suppliers from Uttar Pradesh.
Arrests Across Multiple States
Following Saiyed’s interrogation, the ATS arrested Azad Suleman Sheikh and Mohammad Suhail Mohammad Saleem in Banaskantha, Gujarat. Investigations revealed the duo had procured weapons from Hanumangadh in Rajasthan before delivering them to Saiyed.
Preliminary findings indicate that the suspects conducted reconnaissance of sensitive areas in Lucknow, Delhi, and Ahmedabad. They also disclosed to investigators that their handler routinely sent arms consignments into India using drones launched from across the Pakistan border.
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
The Gujarat ATS has booked the accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, and the Arms Act. Dr. Saiyed has been remanded to ATS custody until November 17, while the other two suspects are scheduled to be produced before a court.
Officials said the team is now coordinating with agencies across multiple states to investigate potential ISKP links and uncover the larger network behind the terror plot.
With the seizure of weapons and toxic materials, Gujarat ATS has successfully thwarted what could have been a catastrophic attack, once again highlighting the critical role of intelligence-based counterterror operations.
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