Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad and NIA Arrest 16 Alleged Hizb-Ut-Tahrir Operatives

In a major breakthrough in the fight against terrorism, the Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in collaboration with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has apprehended 16 individuals suspected of having links to the notorious terrorist organization, Hizb-Ut-Tahrir (HUT). These arrests were made under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The ATS acted swiftly after gathering concrete evidence, which pointed to the involvement of the suspects with the extremist group. According to a police spokesman, HUT's ultimate objective was to destabilize the democratic system in India and replace it with a regime based on Sharia, the Islamic law.

The diverse group of individuals apprehended includes a gym trainer, teacher, auto driver, tailor, computer technician, businessman, and software engineer. The ATS spokesman revealed that these individuals were allegedly involved in organizing clandestine combat training camps within forested areas. The suspects received training from skilled trainers hailing from Hyderabad, underscoring the interconnected nature of the terrorist network.

Furthermore, the arrested individuals were known to deliver provocative speeches at religious gatherings, exploiting such platforms to disseminate HUT's extremist ideology. They also distributed religious literature to attract impressionable youths into their ranks, as per the police spokesman.

During the operation, law enforcement authorities seized objectionable literature, laptops, pen drives, and hard disks from the possession of the arrested individuals. The recovery of such incriminating materials serves as strong evidence against their alleged involvement in terrorist activities.

The recent arrests come in the wake of previous crackdowns on radical groups in Madhya Pradesh. Last year, a number of individuals were detained in Bhopal on charges of being associated with the banned group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Jihadi literature and electronic devices were confiscated from the arrested suspects, highlighting the ongoing battle against extremist elements in the region.

Sources close to the investigation claim that the operation, spanning three months, successfully targeted these alleged HUT operatives before apprehending them. Hizb-Ut-Tahrir, originally founded in Jerusalem in 1952, has since spread its influence to 50 countries worldwide. The organization's notoriety has been compared to that of ISIS, emphasizing the gravity of the threat it poses.

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra emphasized that all the arrested suspects were already on the radar of the ATS. He commended the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies in dismantling the sleeper cells within the state, preventing potential acts of terror. Mishra noted that the government remains committed to eradicating terrorism and maintaining the sanctity of Madhya Pradesh.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who has been actively leading the charge against radicalism, reiterated his firm stance on terrorism, stating, "Terrorism grows only because of the policy of appeasement. There is no place for any terrorist, goon, and crook on the soil of Madhya Pradesh."

With the successful operation against HUT, the Madhya Pradesh ATS and NIA have struck a significant blow to terrorism and taken a step closer to securing the peace and well-being of the state's residents. The arrests send a strong message that extremism will not be tolerated, and the authorities are determined to safeguard the democratic fabric of India.