The Gujarat ATS on Sunday arrested two brothers with suspected ISIS links who allegedly hatched plans to conduct “lone-wolf” attacks in the state.
Wasim Ramodiya and Naeem, who have MCA and BCA degrees respectively, were allegedly in contact with ISIS handlers and were planning to target religious places like Chotila, police said, adding they have recovered bomb-making material from them. This is the first time that youth with ISIS link have been held in Gujarat.
Based on a specific information about their alleged activities “inspired by the jihadi ideology of ISIS”, ATS officials nabbed Wasim from Rajkot and his elder brother Naeem from Bhavnagar during an early morning operation, said officials.
In-charge Joint Commissioner of Police (JCP) Gujarat ATS, JK Bhatt said explosives as well as jihadi literature were found during raids at their residences in Rajkot and Bhavnagar.
Bhatt told reporters in Ahmedabad the brothers used to make social media accounts at frequent intervals to avoid detection. They are believed to have made more than 20 such accounts.
“They were on our radar since last three months. When we arrested them, they were in the process of making an improvised bomb to carry out lone wolf style attacks,” ATS ACP BH Chavda said. Call details of ISIS’ controversial preacher Mufti Abdus Sami Qasmi showed he was in touch with Waseem and Nayeem and that is how the brothers came under police scrutiny, he added.
Security tightened
Following revelations that the lone wolf attack was targeted at Chotila temple, security has been increased at the temple. Security has also been tightened in Dwarka and other religious places.
Father had no clue
Arif Ramodiya, the father of the suspects, claimed that he did not have any knowledge about the activities of his sons.
According to him, Wasim used to work at a Rajkot-based graphic designing firm after completing his MCA, while Naeem used to work with a ship recycling unit in Bhavnagar after completing his BCA for the last seven years.
“I came to know about the activities of my sons only after police raided my residence and arrested Wasim. I had absolutely no idea about their allegiance with ISIS. No one from my family knew about it. This is really shameful for me. It has ruined my reputation,” said Arif, who was visibly shocked over the arrests.
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