In a sweeping operation that has sent shockwaves through India’s security and political circles, authorities have dismantled a sophisticated terror module allegedly linked to Pakistan-based militant outfits, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH). The multi-state crackdown, orchestrated by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in close coordination with Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and central intelligence agencies, has resulted in the arrest of at least seven suspects—among them, several medical professionals—and the seizure of an unprecedented cache of explosives and weaponry.
The operation, which came to light on November 10, 2025, is being touted by officials as one of the most significant counterterrorism successes in recent memory. According to The Hindustan Times, the probe began to take shape following the recovery of nearly 2,900 kilograms of IED-making material, arms, and ammunition from an apartment in Faridabad, Haryana—a city that sits on the doorstep of the national capital, New Delhi.
Faridabad Police Commissioner Satender Kumar Gupta detailed the scale of the seizure: “One assault rifle with three magazines and 83 live rounds, one pistol with eight live rounds, two empty cartridges, two additional magazines, eight large suitcases, four small suitcases, and a bucket containing approximately 360 kg of inflammable material have been recovered. It is suspected to be ammonium nitrate.” Gupta clarified, “It is not RDX... It is not an AK-47; it is an assault rifle. It is like an AK-47 but slightly smaller than it. But it is not AK-47.”
Investigators also recovered 20 timers with batteries, 24 remote controls, walkie-talkie sets, five kilograms of heavy metal, electronic wiring, and contraband materials—painting a chilling picture of large-scale logistical planning. According to The Times of India, the Faridabad raid followed crucial leads developed during a separate investigation in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, where Dr. Adil Ahmad Rather, a doctor from Pulwama, was arrested. It was Rather’s confession that reportedly led authorities to the explosive cache in Faridabad and the arrest of Dr. Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie, an assistant professor at Al-Falah University.
But the web didn’t end there. In Lucknow, police detained Dr. Shaheen, a woman doctor whose vehicle reportedly contained an AK-47 rifle. She was swiftly flown to Srinagar for detailed custodial interrogation, underscoring the urgency and seriousness with which authorities are treating the case. As Mathrubhumi reported, the network’s reach spanned Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, involving “educated individuals using their professional status to conceal terror-linked activities.”
The investigation, still ongoing, has peeled back layers of a “white collar” terror ecosystem. The Jammu and Kashmir Police described the group as comprising radicalised professionals and students—doctors, academics, and traders—who allegedly operated under the instructions of handlers across the border in Pakistan. According to an official police statement, “The group has been using encrypted channels for indoctrination, coordination, fund movement, and logistics. Funds were raised through professional and academic networks under the guise of social and charitable causes.”
Authorities believe the terror cell was working to identify and radicalize new recruits, raise funds, and arrange logistics for preparing improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The scale of the operation is staggering: nearly 2,900 kilograms of explosives, several high-powered rifles—including a Chinese Star pistol, a Beretta pistol, an AK-56, and a Krinkov rifle—alongside a significant quantity of ammunition, were recovered. The arms are believed to have been smuggled into India through routes facilitated by operatives based across the border.
As the probe widened, a parallel crackdown unfolded in Gujarat. The state’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested three suspects near the Adalaj Toll Plaza, recovering two Glock pistols, one Beretta pistol, 30 live cartridges, and four liters of castor oil. According to Gujarat ATS DIG Sunil Joshi, “They had been on the radar for the past year and were arrested while supplying weapons.” The agency has launched a probe into the suspects’ alleged foreign links, further highlighting the transnational dimensions of the threat.
The revelations have triggered a political firestorm. Union Minister Giriraj Singh, speaking to ANI, courted controversy by drawing communal lines: “The Modi government and the State government caught it. However, this was even dangerous than the Mumbai blasts... But, whenever they are caught, it is always a person from one community... a Muslim doctor has been arrested.” Singh’s remarks were swiftly criticized by opposition leaders for stoking division rather than focusing on the gravity of the security threat. “Be it Rahul Gandhi, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav or Asaduddin Owaisi, they would not issue a statement on this. This is condemnable, and people should worry about it. It is a shocking incident for the nation,” he added.
Security experts have underscored the evolving nature of the terror threat. Former Jammu and Kashmir DGP SP Vaid, in comments to ANI, linked the Faridabad recovery to Pakistan’s “deep state,” warning, “I think they were planning a terror action in the interior of the country. That’s why this huge recovery of explosive material, ammonium nitrate or whatever it is, with an assault rifle in a joint operation by J&K and Faridabad police.” Vaid further cautioned, “Pakistan’s deep state is desperate to take some major action in the hinterland. Looks like Pakistan and ISI are planning something big in India.”
Defence expert Captain Anil Gaur (Retd.) echoed these concerns, urging a robust government response: “India has to now take a very strong stand, as our Prime Minister had already said, that Operation Sindoor is ongoing... If anything happens, there will be repercussions.” Gaur also highlighted a worrying trend: “Whatever the politicians may say, because of no jobs, no work avenues, persecuted people are becoming terrorists, but these are educated people.” Recent arrests in Gujarat, he noted, involved a doctor allegedly creating ricin, a deadly poison.
Authorities have not disclosed the specific timeline of all arrests, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation. However, what is clear is the growing sophistication of terror networks seeking to blend into professional sectors—leveraging the credibility and resources of educated individuals to mask their activities. The joint operation, involving the Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana Police, as well as central agencies like the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Intelligence Bureau (IB), reflects the government’s “zero-tolerance” approach. As the Jammu and Kashmir Police put it, “Operations against the terror support network will continue to ensure its complete dismantling.”
While the investigation continues to unravel the full extent of the network’s operations and cross-border connections, the case stands as a stark warning: the threat of terrorism is evolving, and its operatives are no longer limited to the shadows—they may well be hiding in plain sight, behind the most trusted of professions.
