A terrorist plot to attack two major cities in Gujarat, Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, as well as Nariman House and Gateway of India in Mumbai has been foiled, according to police sources. The plot also included strikes against high-profile military bases, with photographs allegedly sent to Pakistan and Syria. These planned attacks may have been orchestrated by the Islamic State, making it one of the largest terror threats India has faced.
The information regarding these foiled attacks comes from the confession of Shahnawaz, also known as Shafi Uzzama, a suspected operative of the Islamic State who was arrested by Delhi Police last month. It is believed that students from Aligarh Muslim University may have been involved in the plot.
The Islamic State has apparently made Pune the focal point of its plans, and Shahnawaz was wanted in connection with the Islamic State Pune module case. He fled the city in July after two of his associates were arrested and has been hiding in Delhi since then.
During his confession, Shahnawaz revealed that his wife was originally a Hindu who converted to Islam, and they met while studying at Aligarh University. He also disclosed that he joined the Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT), an Islamist organization with the goal of re-establishing the Islamic Caliphate to unite all Muslims.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had conducted raids in Bhopal in August, which were linked to the HuT. Previous raids in May had also led to multiple arrests and the dismantling of several terror modules in Telangana and Madhya Pradesh. The HuT is banned in several countries, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, China, and Germany.
Furthermore, Shahnawaz provided information about hawala routes used to transfer money to Pune modules, which is then used for bomb-making and terrorist training.
This foiled terrorist plot highlights the ongoing threat of extremist groups like the Islamic State in India. Security forces continue to work tirelessly to prevent such attacks and ensure the safety of the public.
