Thane ATS and Delhi Police Arrest Kurla Man in Bhayander Over Alleged ISI Terror Module
The Thane Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Delhi Police’s Special Cell arrested a 24-year-old Kurla resident from Bhayander on Tuesday night for his alleged involvement in a terror module linked to Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI. The suspect, Huzaifa Ansari, was apprehended following the earlier arrests of his associates, including a resident of Mumbra in Thane.
Ansari allegedly came under the police radar after being found in contact with a Pakistani handler, Shahzad Bhatti, through social media. According to the police, Bhatti has been using social media platforms to radicalise Indian youth into engaging in terror-related activities.
During interrogation, authorities learned that Ansari influenced his acquaintances, Tauqeer Shaikh from Mumbra and Sajid Shaikh, also known as Arbaz Khan, from Kurla, to join his group in exchange for money. Ansari allegedly helped them join social media channels and shared their bank account details with the Pakistani handler.
Following their introduction to the handler through Ansari, Tauqeer Shaikh reportedly received Rs 21,000 in his bank account, while Arbaz Khan received Rs 25,000. Both Shaikh and Khan were arrested by the Delhi police last week.
Ansari, who worked as a garage mechanic with his father in Kurla East, fled his home after the arrests of Shaikh and Khan. Acting on a tip-off that he was hiding in the Mira Road area, a joint team of the Thane ATS and Delhi Police laid a trap and apprehended him in Bhayander.
Following his arrest, Ansari was brought to the Thane ATS unit office for detailed questioning. He was subsequently produced before a Thane court, which granted a three-day transit remand. The police submitted screenshots of WhatsApp chats as evidence during the court proceedings.
As directed by the Thane court, Ansari is scheduled to be produced before the Patiala House Court in Delhi on June 5.
According to police records, Tauqeer Shaikh, who works as a crane operator, lives with his parents in the Mumbra area of Thane. Sajid Shaikh had been staying with his maternal uncle in Kurla East. Police identified Ansari as the main accused who motivated the others to join the module and accept online payments.
