Gujarat ATS foils terror plot involving deadly ricin poison, arrests ‘doctor’ linked to ISKP
Ahmedabad, Nov 9 – The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has busted a suspected terror syndicate and arrested three individuals, including a doctor who allegedly planned to manufacture the highly lethal chemical poison ricin. The accused doctor reportedly has links to the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP).
As per agency report, the arrested individuals have been identified as Dr Ahmed Mohiyuddin Saiyed, Azad Suleman Shaikh, and Mohammad Suhail Mohammad Saleem. Investigations revealed that they had conducted reconnaissance of several sensitive locations in Lucknow, Delhi, and Ahmedabad, allegedly as part of a larger terror conspiracy.
According to Gujarat ATS Deputy Inspector General Sunil Joshi, Dr Saiyed, who studied medicine in China, was highly radicalized and had begun collecting funds and recruiting individuals for large-scale terrorist activities. He was also found to be in contact with his handler, identified as Abu Khadija, an Afghan national linked to ISKP, who reportedly facilitated the transfer of weapons from Pakistan through drones.
Acting on a tip-off, ATS officials arrested Dr Saiyed on November 7 near Adalaj in Gandhinagar district. The team recovered two Glock pistols, one Beretta pistol, 30 cartridges, and four litres of castor oil from his possession. Saiyed had allegedly initiated research to produce ricin, a highly toxic poison derived from the by-product of castor seed processing. He had already procured necessary equipment and raw materials and begun the initial chemical process.
ATS officials said that Saiyed, along with Shaikh and Saleem, was planning to use the poison for a major terror attack and had arrived in Gujarat to exchange weapons. During interrogation, Saiyed confessed that he had been plotting terror activities and had stored weapons collected from a remote location in Kalol, Gandhinagar district.
The ATS later arrested Shaikh and Saleem, both residents of Uttar Pradesh, from Banaskantha district. They allegedly procured weapons from Hanumangarh in Rajasthan and supplied them to Saiyed. Three mobile phones and two laptops were also seized from their possession.
Investigations so far have revealed that the trio had been scouting sensitive locations for nearly a year. While no local sleeper cell has been identified yet, officials are probing possible links to both domestic and international terror networks. The ATS is coordinating with central and state agencies to trace other individuals connected to the network.
A case has been registered against all three accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Indian Penal Code, and the Arms Act. A court has remanded Dr Saiyed to ATS custody until November 17, while the other two accused were produced before court on Sunday.
