The Gujarat Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) arrested four Al-Qaeda terrorists on Wednesday for allegedly collaborating with Pakistan’s Army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) during Operation Sindoor in May, sources revealed. The accused—Mohammad Faiz (Delhi), Zeeshan Ali (Noida), Saifulla Qureshi (Arvalli), and Mohammad Fardeen Shaikh (Ahmedabad)—were radicalizing youth via social media, promoting Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and supporting Pakistan’s Operation Bunyan un Marsoos.

Following a tip-off about extremist Instagram accounts spreading jihadist propaganda, the ATS raided a terror module. The group shared sensitive Operation Sindoor details with Pakistani accounts and received instructions from them.

Faiz, a fast-food chain manager, led the group, while Ali worked at a mobile store, and Qureshi and Shaikh were tailors. A sword and AQIS literature were seized from Shaikh’s residence, along with posts featuring calls for sharia and a video of AQIS leader Asim Umar, killed in 2019.

The four face charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for terrorism, endangering India’s sovereignty, and promoting communal hatred.

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