In a major counter-terror breakthrough, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has dismantled a suspected Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) module after arresting three men accused of plotting coordinated attacks across several Indian cities. During the operation, investigators discovered a makeshift ricin-producing facility inside a Hyderabad residence linked to one of the accused, Dr Ahmed Mohiyuddin Saiyed. The ATS recovered chemical raw materials, castor oil, and equipment believed to be used to manufacture ricin, a highly toxic protein with no known antidote.

According to officials, the arrested individuals have been identified as Dr Ahmed Mohiyuddin Saiyed, aged 35, a medical graduate from China; Mohammad Suhail Mohammad Saleem Khan, 23, from Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh; and Azad Suleman Sheikh, 20, from Shamli district. Investigators said the three had conducted reconnaissance in high-traffic areas, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) office in Lucknow, Azadpur Mandi in Delhi, and the Naroda fruit market in Ahmedabad. The accused allegedly received operational instructions over Telegram from a handler named Abu Khadija, believed to be based in Afghanistan and linked to ISKP.

Gujarat ATS detained Saiyed on November 8 near the Adalaj toll plaza on the Ahmedabad–Mehsana highway while he was traveling in a silver Ford Figo. During the interception, police recovered two Glock pistols, one Beretta pistol, approximately 30 live cartridges, and nearly four litres of castor oil, a precursor material for ricin production. Subsequent searches led officers to a cache of weapons hidden near Kalol, along with electronic evidence from Saiyed’s mobile phone that helped track down his co-conspirators.

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Following Saiyed’s interrogation, two accomplices—Suhail and Sheikh—were apprehended from Banaskantha. The duo allegedly supplied a bag containing firearms and ammunition to Saiyed, which they claimed to have received from Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh district. Investigators believe that the weapons were smuggled across the Indo-Pak border using drones. Sources also confirmed that the trio maintained online communication with multiple Pakistani nationals suspected of aiding the operation.

Authorities have registered a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the Arms Act. All three accused were presented before a local court, which remanded Saiyed and his associates to ATS custody until November 17. The ongoing investigation aims to identify additional members of the ISKP-linked module and trace the transnational arms network used to source weapons and chemical precursors. Officials said heightened intelligence coordination has been initiated to ensure no further security threat emanates from connected extremist outfits operating across India and neighboring countries.

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