In a significant breakthrough in its ongoing counter-terror operations, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Tuesday arrested Shama Parveen, a 30-year-old woman alleged to be the key conspirator and handler of an active Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) terror module. The arrest was made in Bengaluru, Karnataka, marking a major step forward in dismantling what authorities describe as a radical online terror network operating across multiple Indian states.
According to Gujarat ATS officials, Parveen was not only deeply radicalised but also played a central role in coordinating operations and recruitment for AQIS from her base in Bengaluru. The arrest was made based on intelligence gathered from four other AQIS terrorists, who were apprehended last week as part of a nationwide crackdown.
Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi confirmed the development, stating that the investigation had unearthed vital electronic evidence linking Parveen to Pakistani contacts and terrorist activities. “Gujarat ATS had arrested four AQIS terrorists earlier. Yesterday, a woman from Bengaluru was arrested. She is highly radicalised and ran an online terror module. Important Pakistani contacts have been recovered from her electronic devices. In total, Gujarat ATS has arrested five AQIS terrorists running an online terror module,” he said.
The arrest of Shama Parveen follows the July 23 busting of an AQIS terror module by Gujarat ATS, in which four terrorists—Mohammed Faiq (Delhi), Mohammed Fardeen (Noida), Sefullah Kureshi (Ahmedabad), and Zeeshan Ali (Modasa)—were arrested. All of them are between 20 and 25 years old and were reportedly planning a major terror attack in India. Investigators revealed that the group was closely connected via social media platforms and encrypted messaging services, which were used to coordinate strategies, share ideological propaganda, and communicate with handlers abroad.
The ATS disclosed that these individuals had undergone a process of online radicalisation, receiving indoctrination through extremist literature and foreign-based handlers. Parveen, believed to be at the center of this network, is suspected to have acted as a digital recruiter and strategist, guiding operatives through remote channels, and playing a significant role in sustaining AQIS presence within India.
Electronic devices and documents recovered from Parveen’s residence are currently being examined for further leads, including potential international links, funding sources, and the extent of the module's reach across India. The ATS has not ruled out more arrests in the coming days as digital forensics teams continue their work.
The back-to-back arrests have sent shockwaves through security circles, underscoring the emerging threat of online radicalisation and terror planning. Security agencies across the country have been put on alert, and coordination between central and state intelligence bodies has intensified.
