Report: ISIS agents caught from Saurashtra

(My first English article published in well reputed Delhi based English weekly Organiser. It was published on 12 March 2017)

It was 26^th February again, the day when 59 innocent Hindus were burned to death in well planned conspiracy. After 15 years, another major conspiracy to kill Hindu devotees at famous Maa Chamunda temple of Chotila was planned but thanks to Gujarat government and specially ATS who nabbed two ISIS operatives from Rajkot and Bhavnagar and major terror attack was averted.

It was Sunday, generally known as no news day. In afternoon, news channels started flashing two ISIS operatives being arrested from Gujarat. They had planned to conduct ‘lone-wolf’ attack in the state. According to Gujarat ATS, arrested persons’ names are Waseem and Naeem Ramodiya. Both are brothers. They are not low educated persons, but highly educated persons. Wasim is having MCA degree and Naeem is having BCA degree. This shows how ISIS and other terrorist organizations are influencing highly educated persons too. And more shocking fact is that they were not directly recruited by ISIS but they were impressed by ISIS ideology through pro ISIS material on internet during last two years. This situation demands ban on pro ISIS literature on internet by Government. After impressed by ISIS, they attracted to work for ISIS and came in contact with ISIS through Skype, Telegram, Twitter and Whatsapp.

They were also in touch with ISIS’ controversial preacher Mufti Abdus Sami Qazim. Qazim was arrested by NIA in last year. Incidentally, it was also month of February. According to ATS ACP B. S. Chawda, “They were on our radar since last three months. When we arrested them, they were in process of making an improvised bomb to carry out lone-wolf attacks.”

What is lone-wolf attack? When any person tries to attack violently without joining any group or without assistance of any group, it is called lone-wolf attack. Generally terror attacks are committed by a terrorist organization in which organization, either based in Bharat or in outside Bharat manages various persons linked to each other, known to or not known to each other. In this regard, lone-wolf attack is more dangerous as you don’t know person who gets impressed by ISIS so called philosophy and tries to attack on his own. So it may be difficult to catch this type of single or couple terrorists.

"They were attracted to ISIS two years back and started taking interest in its activities. They were in contact with main ISIS persons as well as unknown handlers to get guidance. Evidence collected during raids, including some audio clips, established that the duo were having links with the terror outfit," said Inspector General of Gujarat ATS, J. K. Bhatt.

During the raids, police seized computers and mobile phones with jihadi literature, knife, gun powder and masks to hide their identity during terror attacks. They have been charged under IPC and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Explosive Substances Act.

Following intense questioning, the Ramodiya brothers — Waseem and Naeem —have reportedly revealed that they had twice attempted to carry out a terror attack. Their first attempt was to kill a person while the second was to set ablaze a vehicle. After these unsuccessful attempts, they had planned to attack the Chamunda temple at Chotila. On December 5 last year, there was a hoax call received at the temple about a bomb being planted there. They confessed that they were to make bombs. Rajkot was on their target. They also visited Chotila. They learned to make bombs through internet. They had planned to plant bombs in Trikonbag and Gundawadi areas of Rajkot. Both were sent to 12 days police custody.

Gujarat police is not ruling out the possibility of others being involved in the ISIS terror module. The Gujarat ATS has also recovered three-four pen drives, three mobile phones, books believed to be written in Arabic language, and print out of chatting from the Ramodiya brothers. Gujarat police have now approached their Uttar Pradesh counterparts to hunt for more suspects in this case. Sources in the ATS claimed that a call intercept had revealed Waseem telling Naeem that he dreamt of slain al-Qaida kingpin, Osma bin-Laden.

Both brothers were in contact with ISIS men in Syria. They had planned attack at various Hindu religious places including Chotila and also cutting necks of ‘kaafir’ (word for unbeliever in Islam). ATS has intercepted 173 call records of Vaseem with handler.  As per one phone record, Waseem informs to Qazim, “Waseem muqammel kaam karne ke liye taiyar hai.” Qazim asks him, “Kill kaafir and shoot video.” In reply, Waseem says, “Ek kaafir ki katla karnee hai jo shahar se 30 km dooree par hai. Wahan inka (Hindus’) bada famous mandir hai.” In another conversations, ISIS bosses in Syria ordered Waseem, “Kuchh aisa kaam karke dikhao ke Allah khush ho jaye!”.

Gujarat ATS got shocking details from computer of Waseem in which ISIS’ sent news. Message in news was that they had to wipe out US and Israel. If they wouldn’t do it, Muslims in Syria will be wiped out. But they wouldn’t let this happen and would destroy US and Israel. Christians would convert to Muslims and would join with them.

ISIS agents use to keep propagate so called brutality on Muslims and injustice to them through cds, audios and books. ISIS agents use to provoke to attack Hindus, explode bombs on Hindu religious places.

But it was not just ISIS handler Qazim who was guide and ‘instigating’ factor. It was Waseem’s wife Shahjeen too. As per new reports, Waseem visited Chotila on 24^th February. But Waseem called Shahjeen and told that he was feeling nervous. He felt attack was not going to succeed. At this point, Shahjeen told Vaseem, “Kaafir ke saamne ladai hai. Allah tumhara saath dega. Gabharaya vina kaam purun karee naakh. (Go ahead without hesitation.)” She also told, “Dhadaka kartee vela e koi aadun aave to tenan mathan vaadhee naakhje. (Cut head if someone comes in way of attack.)” However, it is surprise that Shahjeen is not arrested still.

Waseem had facebook account on name of ‘rebel rebel’. He had put profile picture in which one terrorist can be seen with gun. He has written in cover photo “Let dooms happen, let anything happen to me, I love you.” He has posted many posts related to Islam. He has posted against demonetization decision of Modi government too.

Waseem has studied in Saint Mary School. He used to work at a Rajkot-based graphic designing firm after completing his MCA, while Naeem used to work with a ship recycling unit in Bhavnagar after completing his BCA. Naeem was fond of “Counter strike game” and used to go to play this game in Game Zone at Samskar Mandal, Bhavnagar.

Both brothers’ father Areefbhai caught unaware about his sons’ terror activities. When ATS raided his house located in Moradiya area of Rajkot, he was shocked. Areefbhai is said to be living simple life. He was speechless when he heard from police and slapped his son three-four times. He said he would have to consume poison due to his sons’ terror activities. Areefbhai is retired steno typist from Saurashtra University. He retired just two years ago. He used to serve as cricket umpire in Saurashtra Cricket Association’s district level matches.