UNEASE IN BHOPAL

In an early morning swoop on May 9, the Madhya Pradesh Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested 10 people from Bhopal and one from Chhindwara under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The same day in Telangana, five people—two from Bhopal—were picked up in Hyderabad and handed over to the MP ATS. All of them, say the police, have links to the Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT), a West Asia-based radical Islamic group that has come under the scanner in India only recently, though it has been banned in 16 countries, including Pakistan.

This is the second time since 2022 that Bhopal is in the news for terrorismrelated activities. In March last year, the ATS arrested three Bangladeshi nationals with links to the Jamaat-eMujahideen Bangladesh. A few areas in the state have also seen arrests of Popular Front of India (PFI) cadres.

Among those arrested on May 9 is one Yasir Khan, 29, who worked as a gym trainer in Bhopal and is said to be the kingpin of the operation. Per the police, Khan held recruitment drives across the state and had been trying to procure arms. There’s also a religious conversion angle—of those held, one person, Mohammed Salim, 35, is a Hindu convert. This has given fodder to the state BJP leadership. Post the arrests, CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and home minister Narottam Mishra were quick to assert that ‘conversions would not be allowed’ in the state.

The opposition says the arrests point to growing radicalisation. “Bhopal was never known for harbouring radical Islamic groups. The BJP has caused immense polarisation,” said Congress spokesperson Abbas Hafeez. With the assembly election later this year, no surprises if terrorism becomes a poll issue in the coming months. ■