Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

ATS arrests brothers from Guj for IS links, foil temple attack plan

- Hiral Dave letters@hindustant­imes.com

The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Sunday morning arrested two brothers from Saurashtra region of Gujarat for having alleged links with the Islamic State, a terror group.

The security agency said it has, in the process, foiled an attack they were planning on Chotila temple in Surendrana­gar district.

“Wasim Ramodia was picked up from his home at Nehrunagar in Rajkot, and his brother Naem from Bhavnagar city. Both were in touch with the Islamic State network through Twitter and Facebook. They wanted to flee to Syria after carrying out the attack on Chotila temple,” said an ATS official.

Both Wasim and Naem had been on the ATS radar for nearly two years.

Police said Wasim’s wife, who he married in 2015, has also come under the scanner.

AHMEDABAD: The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Sunday morning arrested two brothers from Saurashtra region of Gujarat for having alleged links with the Islamic State, a terror group.

The security agency said it has, in the process, foiled an attack they were planning on Chotila temple in Surendrana­gar district.

“Wasim Ramodia was picked up from his home at Nehrunagar in Rajkot, and his brother Naem from Bhavnagar city. Both were in touch with the Islamic State network through Twitter and Facebook. They wanted to flee to Syria after carrying out the attack on Chotila temple,” said an ATS official.

Both Wasim and Naem had been on the ATS radar for nearly two years. Police said Wasim’s wife, who he married in 2015, has also come under the scanner.

The brothers were brought to the Rajkot commission­er of police’s office for preliminar­y interrogat­ion, and then taken to Ahmedabad. ATS personnel recovered gunpowder, jihadi literature and masks from their possession. Their computers and cellphones have also been seized.

The police said both Wasim and Naem are well educated, holding master’s and bachelor’s degrees in computer applicatio­n respective­ly.

Their father, Aarif, serves as an umpire in domestic cricket matches.

BOTH WASIM AND NAEM HAD BEEN ON THE ATS RADAR FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS. WASIM’S WIFE, WHO HE MARRIED IN 2015, HAS ALSO COME UNDER THE SCANNER

 ?? HT PHOTO ?? ATS personnel take one of the brothers, accused of having Islamic State links, into custody.
HT PHOTO ATS personnel take one of the brothers, accused of having Islamic State links, into custody.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India