AHMEDABAD: Gujarat ATS has busted an alleged terror conspiracy in Navsari, arresting 22-year-old tailor Faizan Salmani for allegedly plotting targeted killings, spreading "jihadist" ideology, and conspiring to wage war against India under the influence of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Al-Qaeda.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the ATS arrested him from Gujarat’s Navsari District.
The operation began with confidential information received by ATS DySP Harsh Upadhyay, who was tipped off that a man named Faizan from Dundawala village in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur district, now in Navsari’s Zarakwad area, had hatched a dangerous plot.
According to the intelligence, Faizan was planning to carry out targeted killings of certain well-known youths in Uttar Pradesh to spread terror, while simultaneously pushing a larger agenda of "jihad" aimed at separating Kashmir from India.
“This was not just radical thinking. This was operational intent,” an ATS officer said.
“Weapons were arranged, targets were identified, and propaganda was actively circulated,” he added.
A technical analysis team witnessed a breakthrough following the discovery of a suspicious Instagram handle “al.faizangaza” allegedly operated by Faizan.
Senior ATS officers carried out discreet ground verification.
Once Faizan’s movements and location were confirmed, a joint ATS and Navsari Police team launched a coordinated raid.
The suspect was apprehended. Faizan was taken to the Navsari SOG office for interrogation. A forensic examination of his mobile phone revealed a trove of extremist digital material openly supporting banned terror outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Al-Qaeda (AQ).
Among the recovered content were visuals and messages that investigators described as “blatant calls for violence.”
One image showed the Red Fort with India’s Tricolour replaced by a black Islamic flag, bearing the name “AL FAIZAN CHOUDHARY.”
Another depicted a distorted map of India mainland marked in black, Kashmir shown separately with the so-called “Azad Kashmir” flag.
A third image carried an explicit threat: “Of India in Delhi, the death of all these names written is very close… we will show you how to kill them Inshallah,” followed by a list of names.
A 2026 map titled “Muslim Territories Currently Under Kuffar Occupation, a masked photo of Faizan with his finger raised, stamped with Al-Jihad, a chilling warning claiming that people who allegedly insulted the Prophet would die as a dog, a world map draped in a black flag with “Hizb ut-Tahrir” written across it, were also found.
Several photographs showed individuals with their faces circled, marked targets, investigators believe.
Equally disturbing were his online conversations.
Chats with a handler identified as Mohammed Abu Bakar revealed the circulation of inflammatory speeches, propaganda videos from the Jaish-e-Mohammed media cell, and audio clips of radical sermons in Urdu.
Videos of the wanted terrorist Farhatullah Ghori were also found.
The digital trail was matched by physical firepower. During searches, ATS recovered one pistol and six live cartridges from Faizan’s possession.
Alongside the weapon, officers seized 29 pages of extremist literature in Arabic and Urdu.
Translations showed content openly glorifying jihad, misleading youth, and recruiting for banned organisations, including material titled “Why Al-Qaeda?”
During interrogation, conducted in the presence of panch witnesses, Faizan allegedly made crucial disclosures.
He admitted to being in constant contact with Mohammed Abu Bakar for the past six to seven months through WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram.
He revealed that three months ago, he joined a closed Instagram group where names and photos of individuals accused of insulting the Prophet were circulated with direct calls to kill them.
“He didn’t just consume the content. He amplified and forwarded the material and actively conspired,” an officer said.
Faizan also confessed to following JeM founder Maulana Masood Azhar and watching jihadist videos of Mufti Abdul Rauf Asgar.
Regarding the weapon, he told investigators that he had purchased the pistol and cartridges about six months ago from an unknown person in Uttar Pradesh, with the explicit motive of carrying out targeted killings.
Preliminary findings suggest that Faizan and Abu Bakar conspired to wage war against the Government of India, incite violence within a specific community, and provoke armed rebellion.
Investigators say the larger objective was to destabilise the country and fuel separatist ideology aimed at Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Based on the evidence, Gujarat ATS has registered offences under stringent sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and the Arms Act.
Efforts are now underway to trace Abu Bakar, dismantle the wider network, and identify others who may have been radicalised or assisted the plot.
