• Source:JND

Jagran Correspondent | Bhopal: The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in Bhopal had arrested a suspected terrorist, identified as Mohammed Faraz, from the Bairasia area. The arrest is part of a broader trend; over the last five months, at least 13 individuals were apprehended for their alleged connection to terrorist organisations. While cities, such as Bhopal, were earlier not associated with terrorist and antisocial activities, recent events signal a troubling shift in the region's security landscape.

What Did The ATS Find Out

Bhopal gradually has emerged as a safe zone for the terrorists. Faraz was allegedly receiving online training from terrorists. As per the ATS, the chats and messages reveal that the individual was receiving training in ideological radicalisation and subversive activities from a Pakistani organisation via the internet. It is reported that plans were also underway to send Faraz and a few other youths abroad for field training; Faraz had made a passport as well.

A Shifting Trend In Strategies?

According to the ATS officials, the terrorist organisations have evidently shifted their strategies regarding training and operation. While the terror operations earlier operated from densely populated areas such as Bhopal—such as Aishbagh, Nishatpura, Chhola, and Gautam Nagar. They are gradually shifting to rural areas, significantly the outskirts of the cities.

The officials suggest that locals in these areas are comparatively more cooperative and friendly; it's easier to befriend them. The landlords also play a major role in shielding these unknown individuals. In the greed of some extra money, they rent their properties to people without conducting a police verification, which later cost them a lot. This negligence provides terrorists with an opportunity to go into hiding without alerting the local police stations.

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Recent Arrests

Several cases have been reported in these years. In March 2022, the ATS arrested four suspected terrorists belonging to the banned organisation Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) from the Ahmed Nagar Colony in Aishbagh. The NIA subsequently took over the investigation and filed a charge sheet against a total of 10 suspects (including six Bangladeshi nationals); proceedings regarding this are currently underway in a special court.

In May 2023, a major module of the organisation Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT)—with links extending to Bhopal, Chhindwara, and Hyderabad—was busted. The case is currently before the court.

In October 2025, the Delhi Police Special Cell arrested a young man on charges of having links to the notorious global terrorist organisation ISIS. The pattern reveals the presence of extremist groups in densely populated areas

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Security agencies are scrutinising local leads.They are now investigating the backgrounds of Faraaz's local contacts and accomplices in order to completely dismantle this network. These developments have proven that the threat looming over Bhopal has not yet passed; rather, there is a need to remain vigilant.


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