ISKP-Linked Terror Module: Ricin Materials Seized From Hyderabad Doctor’s Home In Gujarat ATS Raid
Gujarat ATS seizes ricin-making materials from Hyderabad home of a medical professional.
In a major anti-terror operation, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) recovered materials used in the production of ricin—a highly lethal biological toxin—from the Hyderabad residence of a medical professional. The raid, carried out in the early hours of Wednesday, targeted the home of Dr. Ahmed Mohiyuddin Saiyyad, who is among three individuals recently arrested by the Gujarat ATS for alleged involvement in a suspected plot linked to biological weapons. According to officials, the seizure included significant quantities of chemical materials and equipment that could be used to extract ricin from castor pulp.
Sources told NDTV that a team of 10 to 12 ATS personnel conducted the search operation, confiscating around 3 kg of castor pulp—the primary component used to extract ricin—along with 5 litres of acetone, a solvent commonly employed in chemical processing. Investigators also found a cold-press extraction machine, a mixing tub containing castor pulp residue, and a payment receipt for the chemical’s purchase. These findings, according to ATS investigators, point toward the possible production of ricin, which is classified internationally as a biological weapon.
Ricin is a naturally occurring protein found in castor beans and is among the most toxic substances known. A dose as small as a few micrograms can be fatal if ingested, inhaled, or injected. It disrupts protein synthesis in cells, leading to organ failure and death. The toxin can be easily derived from the castor oil industry’s waste product—known as castor meal—and can be weaponised in form of powder, aerosol, or liquid, which makes it a major concern under global anti-terror protocols. Security agencies worldwide treat possession or production of ricin as a serious biosecurity threat.
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The Gujarat ATS believes Dr. Ahmed and his associates may have been attempting to extract and refine ricin using the materials recovered during the raid. Investigators are now examining possible links to extremist or organised criminal groups. The agency has also sought forensic analysis of the seized substances to confirm whether ricin was actually produced or whether the suspects were in the early stages of experimentation. “The type and quantity of materials found suggest deliberate preparation,” an official said. “We are probing whether the intent was research, sale, or potential weaponisation.”
Dr. Ahmed, a medical graduate who studied in China, has denied any deliberate wrongdoing. His brother, Omer Farooq, who is studying to become a cleric, told reporters that the doctor may not have been fully aware of the deadly nature of the project he was working on. “My brother was given a project by someone,” he said. “I don’t think he knew about ricin’s toxicity.” The Gujarat ATS has not yet revealed details about Ahmed’s alleged collaborators but has confirmed that he and the two other suspects remain in custody as the investigation expands to trace the origins of the material and potential motive behind the operation.
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