Rajasthan Police’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Friday arrested around 30 suspects for questioning as it conducted raids in Jaipur, Ajmer, Churu, Dungarpur, Barmer and more than a dozen other cities on the premises of people allegedly linked to ISI official Shahzad Bhatti via social media.
The raids came a day after Delhi Police said it had busted an alleged inter-state terror and arms network operating at the behest of Bhatti, with Punjab residents Shudeep Singh, 23, Gurjant Singh, 22, Sajjan Singh, 28, and Jaganpreet, 24, being arrested.
Delhi Police said that one of the four conducted a reconnaissance of police institutions and religious places in the capital. They added that the unit was recruited to carry out a terrorist attack in Delhi and neighboring areas, and communicated with those in charge of it using foreign phone numbers to avoid detection.
Rajasthan ATS said Bhatti is using social media to lure youth with online games, money and glamor associated with gangsters and terrorists. Investigators suspect that he then expanded his network and searched for images and other information related to sensitive sites.
Superintendent of Police (ATS) Manish Tripathi said the agency received intelligence information about the suspects in Rajasthan linked to Bhatti’s social media accounts. “After verifying the inputs, we started the process on Thursday,” he added.
Tripathi said the ATS had prepared a list of names of people associated with Hattie on social media before acting. He added that investigators are examining whether the suspects’ connections are limited to social media or extend beyond online interactions. “If it turns out that someone’s communication is limited to social media, their electronic devices are returned after questioning.”
Tripathi said the role of some appeared suspicious. “Their backgrounds, criminal records and bank accounts are being checked. They will be questioned further if necessary,” he added. He added that the operation is expected to end on Friday evening. ATS was checking the cellphones and social media accounts of the suspects as part of the investigation.
On June 22, the anti-terrorism agency said it had arrested Babita alias Khadija, an alleged JeM-linked activist, in Jaipur under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Investigators claimed that she had married online to a leader of Jaish al-Islam and was planning to flee to Pakistan.
