Dhanbad, Jharkhand: In a significant counter-terrorism operation, the Jharkhand Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested four individuals in Dhanbad district of Jharkhand on charges of alleged links to banned terrorist organizations, including Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT), ISIS, and Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).
The arrests come after intelligence reports suggested that radical networks were attempting to expand their influence across the state. Authorities indicated that the suspects were allegedly using social media and other digital platforms to target and indoctrinate individuals using a method known as Targeted Social and Emotional Exploitation (TSEE).
According to ATS sources, the detainees were involved in spreading communal propaganda, facilitating illegal arms transactions, and engaging in activities that posed a threat to national security.
The operation, which took place on Saturday, involved coordinated raids across four locations in Dhanbad. The arrested individuals have been identified as: Gulfam Hasan (21), a resident of Alinagar, Bank More; Ayan Javed (21), and his wife Shabnam Praveen (20), both from Shamsher Nagar; Md Shahzad Alam (20), a resident of the Bhuli Bypass area Dhanbad.
During the raids, law enforcement recovered two pistols, a dozen live cartridges, several mobile devices, laptops, and a collection of documents and literature linked to extremist groups.
A formal case has been filed at the ATS Headquarters in Ranchi, with investigations continuing to trace further connections and additional suspects. This operation marks the first criminal case in India following the government’s formal ban on Hizb ut-Tahrir under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act-1967 (UAPA) on October 10, 2024.
Authorities view this operation as a significant step in the country’s efforts to dismantle extremist networks operating within its borders. Further updates are expected as the investigation unfolds.
