Ahmedabad: Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has recently busted an online terror module linked to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and arrested 30-year-old Shama Parveen Ansari from Bengaluru along with four others in the case. Now, given the gravity of the case, teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are likely to join the probe. Officials said that under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the NIA can initiate an independent investigation if required.

It is noteworthy that earlier, after the ATS arrested two teenagers from Nadiad accused of launching cyberattacks on Indian government websites following India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’, the investigation was transferred to the NIA. Similarly, there is a possibility that the entire Al-Qaeda-linked module case could soon be formally handed over to the central agency.

The case has gained inter-state dimensions, with accused persons arrested from three different states. Investigations have revealed that two of the accused were disseminating Al-Qaeda propaganda videos and had established contact with social media users in Pakistan through Instagram chats.

According to ATS officials, while no formal handover paperwork has been initiated yet, the NIA retains the option to independently take over the investigation should it deem necessary. DeshGujarat