Gujarat ATS Arrests Doctor and Accomplices Planning Deadly Ricin Terror Attack

The Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad has dismantled a suspected terror network by apprehending three individuals, including a doctor with Chinese medical credentials who was allegedly manufacturing the deadly poison 'Ricin'. The doctor's handler reportedly has ties to the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP).

Dr. Ahmed Mohiyuddin Saiyed, alongside Azad Suleman Sheikh and Mohammad Suhail Mohammad Saleem, had reportedly conducted surveillance of various sensitive locations across Lucknow, Delhi, and Ahmedabad, according to a senior ATS officer on Sunday.

Gujarat ATS DIG Sunil Joshi informed reporters, "Dr. Ahmed Mohiyuddin Saiyed is highly educated and radicalised. He had planned to gather funds and recruit individuals as part of a plot to execute major terrorist activities."

The suspects allegedly revealed that their handler delivers weapons via drone across the Pakistan border.

Following intelligence, an ATS team captured Dr. Saiyed, originally from Hyderabad, near Adalaj in Gandhinagar on November 7. He was found with two Glock pistols, a Beretta pistol, 30 live cartridges, and four litres of castor oil.

Joshi explained that Saiyed, who obtained his MBBS degree in China, had been preparing Ricin, a highly lethal poison, for a significant terrorist attack. He had already conducted research, acquired equipment and raw materials, and begun initial chemical processing.

Ricin is derived from waste material produced during castor bean processing.

According to Joshi, Saiyed, Sheikh, and Saleem were in Gujarat to exchange weapons and had conspired to conduct terrorist activities using Ricin.

During interrogation, Saiyed admitted he was planning terrorist activities and had collected weapons from an isolated area in Kalol, Gandhinagar district.

Joshi revealed that Saiyed's handler, Abu Khadija, an Afghanistan resident associated with ISKP, has connections with several Pakistani individuals.

Sheikh and Saleem, both from Uttar Pradesh, were arrested in Banaskantha district for allegedly supplying weapons to Saiyed. Information from Saiyed's mobile phone led to their capture.

The two had reportedly procured weapons from Hanumangadh in Rajasthan before supplying them to Saiyed.

ATS also confiscated three mobile phones and two laptops from the suspects.

"Call records and interrogations indicate they had been conducting reconnaissance operations at sensitive locations for the past year. We haven't identified any local sleeper cell connected to them yet, but we will thoroughly investigate all aspects of local and international network involvement," Joshi added.

Whether they are directly linked to ISKP remains under investigation. Gujarat ATS is pursuing leads across multiple states.

The ATS plans to make additional arrests through coordination with Central and state agencies.

All three suspects have been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, and Arms Act. Saiyed has been remanded to ATS custody until November 17, while the other two were to be presented in court on Sunday.