Ahmedabad: Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Wednesday arrested five more alleged members of a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)-linked module, claiming the group had progressed beyond spreading extremist propaganda and was actively preparing to acquire the capability to execute improvised explosive device (IED) blasts after years of planning and experimentation.The latest arrests deepen the probe into what ATS described as an organised conspiracy involving recruitment, radicalisation, bomb-making training and repeated attempts to develop the operational capability to carry out terrorist attacks.ATS officials identified the arrested accused as Bilal Shera (24), Mohammed Ayub Kadiwal (22), Ayub Sunsara (20), Shafria Rais Mukhi (21) and Mohammedhasan Kardiya (20). A court remanded the accused to ATS custody for eight days.According to the agency, Bilal was a resident of Kathwada in Ahmedabad, Kadiwal, Sunsara and Kardiya were from Patan, while Mukhi belonged to Vadgam in Banaskantha district.The arrests are linked to an FIR registered by the ATS on July 2 under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the BNS, following intelligence inputs that a group of youths in north Gujarat had allegedly formed an active JeM-inspired network.According to the ATS, the investigation revealed that between 2023 and Feb 2026, members of the group repeatedly met to study the construction and functioning of IEDs and performed at least eight trials at different locations to understand explosive timer mechanisms and methods of triggering blasts. Investigators alleged that the accused procured raw materials for explosive mixtures through online platforms and local markets before experimenting with different assembly techniques.“They were systematically learning to fabricate IEDs and conducting repeated trial exercises to acquire the capability to execute bomb blasts,” ATS officials said.The agency alleged that Bilal Shera supplied a pen drive containing speeches, videos and literature attributed to JeM founder Masood Azhar to one of the previously arrested accused, Mohammad Amin Shera. The digital material was allegedly printed and circulated among members.During interrogation, investigators claimed Kadiwal disclosed that he and other accused attended closed-door ‘dawat’ sessions inside a mosque where they allegedly discussed jihad, learnt methods of assembling IEDs and studied techniques for successfully detonating explosive devices.The agency also alleged that members repeatedly photocopied and circulated extremist literature, and used organised religious meetings to recruit students into the group. Investigators claimed they identified at least three such recruitment attempts during the probe.Earlier searches in the case led to the seizure of a JeM flag, printed literature allegedly linked to Masood Azhar, a letter attributed to him, Rs 1.3 lakh cash uspected to be intended for terror-related activities, and materials that could be used in fabricating IEDs.The fresh arrests were made after questioning several witnesses across Gujarat and Rajasthan, ATS officials said. The agency will now investigate whether the alleged module had identified potential targets or established links with handlers outside the state.
