Mumbai : On Sunday morning, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) launched an extensive search operation, raiding about 21 locations in the Yavatmal and Ahilyanagar districts following intelligence inputs linked to extremist activities, officials said.
The coordinated action saw the ATS, in collaboration with local police, carry out searches at 14 sites in the Pusad and Umarkhed areas of Yavatmal and seven additional locations in Ahilyanagar, as authorities pursued leads on suspected extremist elements since early hours.
In January, the Uttar Pradesh ATS had arrested Idhu Islam, believed to be a close associate of a figure referred to as Chhangur Baba, in Nagpur, as part of a broader probe into alleged religious conversion activities. Officials say Islam was involved in managing financial and logistical support for the network under investigation.
Also Read : February 2026 Bank Holidays: Here’s What Customers Should Know
The joint teams of the Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh ATS, backed by district police, have maintained operations through Sunday, conducting searches and collecting evidence at the multiple sites identified.
This latest sweep adds to a series of high-profile ATS actions in the past year. In October 2025, the squad, together with Pune police, conducted extensive searches in several parts of Pune city linked to an ongoing probe into a suspected sleeper ISIS module. At that time, the ATS searched the homes and offices of nearly 19 individuals suspected of involvement in radicalisation, recruitment, and other terror-related activities. Authorities also recovered digital devices and documents during that operation.
At present, officials have not publicly disclosed any new arrests or seizures resulting from the current set of raids. However, ATS teams continue their inquiries as part of the ongoing investigation.
Also Read : Married Man Allegedly Murders Lover, Body Dumped in Bhopal Septic Tank
