Gujarat ATS Cracks Down: Five More Arrested in JeM Bomb Plot

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has made five more arrests in a significant case involving an alleged Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)-linked terror module, bringing the total number of individuals apprehended to thirteen. This latest crackdown comes after evidence revealed the group moved beyond just spreading extremist propaganda, actively conducting bomb-making trials and plotting IED attacks across Gujarat. The suspects, many of them young, were reportedly involved in detailed experimentation with explosive devices since 2023. Investigators uncovered that the accused had been systematically learning how to build Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and carrying out at least eight test blasts at different locations, procuring raw materials like potassium nitrate, sulphur, and charcoal online and from local markets. They also allegedly translated JeM literature into Gujarati to expand their reach, operating under instructions from 'Pakistani Handlers' to establish a terror network. This operation by the Gujarat ATS highlights a persistent threat, especially after India recently designated 23 Pakistan-based operatives, including JeM members, as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in early July 2026. The five newly arrested individuals, now in eight-day police custody, face charges under the UAPA and the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The ATS is pushing to uncover potential targets and any further links with external handlers, indicating a deeper, ongoing investigation. This ongoing probe is crucial in the context of India's broader counter-terrorism efforts, including the new PRAHAAR policy, aiming to dismantle such networks and prevent future attacks, especially given recent IED-related incidents reported in other parts of the country.