Main handler who coordinated operations and key conspirator of Al-Qaeda terror module; 30-year-old Shama Parveen arrested by ATS

BENGALURU: The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a woman with terrorist links with Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). Shama Parveen (30) was arrested in Bengaluru. The ATS said that Shama was in charge of running the entire module and was the main handler coordinating operations from Karnataka.

Four suspected terrorists aged between 20 and 25 were arrested from Gujarat, Delhi and Noida on July 23. Shama's arrest follows this. Mohammed Faiq, son of Mohammed Rizwan; Mohammed Fardeen, son of Mohammed Raees; ⁠Sefullah Kureshi, son of Mahammed Rafik; and Zeeshan Ali, son of Asif Ali were arrested. They were targeting large operations across India and communicated through social media. The investigation team has informed that they have cross-border links.

UN reports also indicate that Al Qaeda is trying to establish roots in the Indian subcontinent. This is stated in the 32nd report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council. The report states that AQIS, led by its emir Osama Mehmood, is expanding its operations in Jammu and Kashmir, Bangladesh and Myanmar.