Maharashtra ATS Conducts Extensive Raids to Thwart Terror Activities Linked to Saquib Nachan

Major Anti-Terror Operation in Thane District

On Monday, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), in collaboration with the Thane Rural Police, executed a significant operation in the Padgha area near Bhiwandi, Thane district. This extensive search involved multiple locations, including residences of families and associates of individuals previously arrested in connection with terrorism. Authorities initiated this operation as a preventive measure against potential terrorist threats in the area. The raids commenced around 4 AM and continued into the afternoon, engaging over 250 police personnel, including 20 specialized teams from the ATS, who targeted 22 specific sites based on actionable intelligence.

Background on Saquib Nachan

The focus of these raids was primarily on the family members of Saquib Nachan, a terror suspect identified by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as a leader within the ISIS Maharashtra module. Nachan has been implicated in numerous terror-related offenses and has been under surveillance since the 1990s. He has faced multiple convictions, including a Supreme Court ruling in 1997 for orchestrating terror plots alongside Khalistani operatives. In 2016, he received a 10-year sentence under the Arms Act related to the 2002-03 Mumbai bombings, serving his time before being released in 2017.

Recent Developments in the ISIS Investigation

In 2023, the NIA intensified its crackdown on the ISIS network, conducting raids across Maharashtra and Karnataka that led to the arrest of 15 individuals linked to terrorism. Reports indicate that Nachan played a pivotal role in administering oaths to new recruits. During these operations, authorities seized substantial amounts of cash, weapons, and digital devices, all aimed at dismantling the Islamic State's capacity to execute violent acts and threaten public safety.

Nachan's Influence and Ideology

Investigators revealed that Nachan and his associates, driven by extremist ideologies, aimed to disrupt societal peace and harmony. In 2023, he proclaimed Padgha as a 'liberated zone' and 'Al-Sham', encouraging vulnerable youths to relocate there to bolster their ranks. Both Nachan and his son, Shamil, were apprehended by anti-terror units in connection with the ISIS module.

Legal Challenges by Nachan

While incarcerated in 2024, Nachan sought to challenge the government's classification of ISIS as a terrorist organization by petitioning the Supreme Court to annul the official notifications that designated ISIS and its affiliates as terrorist entities.

Strategic Importance of Padgha

The NIA has indicated that the Maharashtra ISIS module had declared Padgha a 'liberated zone', with efforts to recruit young Muslim men to strengthen their presence. Previous NIA raids in Padgha and nearby Borivali uncovered that members of this module were operating from these areas, plotting to instill fear and execute violent attacks throughout India.