After the arrest of four Sri Lankan nationals with alleged ties to the terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS) at Ahmedabad airport on Sunday, the hunt is on for local collaborators. The four suspects are in police custody for 14 days.
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) is looking for those responsible for planting weapons hidden under construction debris in Chiloda on the busy Ahmedabad-Himmatnagar highway.
Three pistols, 20 rounds of ammunition and an IS flag have been recovered. The ammunition bore the marking “FATA,” suggesting origins from Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
ATS officers said that the men were allegedly plotting a suicide attack in Gujarat, awaiting approval from their Pakistani handler.
The exact timing and target of the attack remain unknown. “We are searching for those who planted the weapons in the debris. Efforts are underway to retrieve CCTV footage to identify the culprits and ascertain the time it was planted there,” said an ATS officer.
Intended targets
Interrogations have revealed the suspects’ affiliation with IS and their allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Their intended targets purportedly included Jews, Christians, members of the BJP and RSS, and individuals perceived as exploiting or mistreating Muslims, the officers added.
Their Pakistani handler, known as Abu, had allegedly informed them that the location of the weapons would be shared via Proton Drive and Proton Mail. They were instructed to retrieve the weapons and await further instructions regarding the target and timing of their deployment.
So far, the suspects have withheld information regarding the specifics of their planned attack, said ATS sources. Forensic data is being extracted from their devices and analysed to uncover details about their plans and potential accomplices in India, they added.
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