Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Shamli (Uttar Pradesh), Nov 10 (IANS) One of the three people arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) for alleged links with Islamic State (ISIS) has been identified as Azad, a resident of Jhinjhana town in Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh. His family has denied knowledge of his links with any terrorist group and demanded an impartial investigation into the case.
Gujarat ATS on Sunday arrested three persons – Ahmed Mohiuddin Syed, Mohammed Suhail and Azad – who, according to officials, were under surveillance for almost a year. The three were reportedly caught while attempting to supply weapons.
Azad’s brother Shahzad, who spoke to the ATS after his arrest, said Azad had gone to Budhana in Muzaffarnagar district three days ago.
Shahzad told IANS, “He had gone to Budhana, where his niece also lives. He had promised to bring her home. This afternoon, I got a call from Gujarat ATS, saying that my brother has been arrested. When I asked to contact them, they said they would talk in two to three hours. Since then there has been no contact from Azad or the ATS team.”
He further said that no criminal case was ever registered against his brother.
Shahzad urged authorities to conduct a fair investigation, saying, “If my brother is a traitor, he should be punished; if he is innocent, he should be released.”
Azad’s mother Farmida also expressed disbelief at the allegations. He said that his son used to work as a laborer in a madrasa in Budhana while reciting Quran.
“He left home on November 6 or 7, saying he would bring his niece, his elder brother’s daughter, along with him. He never returned. Along with his studies, he works as a tailor and mechanic. We don’t understand how the Gujarat Police arrested him. He used to go to Budhana Madrasa on Thursdays and return home on Saturdays,” he told IANS.
Local social worker Maulana Irshad, who lives in the same area, described Azad as a hard-working youth.
Irshad told IANS, “The boy was honest and used to support his family through hard work. He studied at Budhana Madrasa and also taught children there for some time. Due to inflation, his small business failed, so he planned to open a shop on a vacant land near his house. How this incident happened and how he reached there is a matter of investigation.”
He said, “If he has done something wrong then the government should take strict action. But if he is innocent then he should get justice after proper investigation.”
Gujarat ATS is yet to reveal specific details about Azad’s role in the alleged ISIS-linked network. Investigation is ongoing.
–IANS
sd/red