Rajasthan ATS arrests five for allegedly funding terrorism
Jaipur: The Rajasthan Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested five individuals suspected of providing financial support to terrorist activities. The detainees have been identified as Maulvis Ayub, Masood, and Usman, along with Junaid from Karauli, while the fifth suspect’s identity remains undisclosed.
According to officials, Ayub, a cleric at the Arabia Madrasa in Jodhpur’s Chokha area, had been working there for 13 years. ATS officers seized several documents from his residence, including materials from a private library he maintained. Three mobile phones were also confiscated, and his room has been sealed for investigation.
Authorities are probing whether other madrasa teachers were involved in any extremist-linked operations. The ATS has also conducted raids across Jodhpur, Barmer, and Karauli districts, expanding its investigation network to trace possible financial trails and connections with radical groups.
Family members of Ayub claimed he was innocent, stating that “he only used YouTube on his mobile” and that “20–25 plainclothes officers surrounded the house before arresting him.”
The arrested suspects are being interrogated at the ATS headquarters in Jaipur. Officials said security agencies across the state have been placed on high alert following the arrests.
The crackdown follows a series of intelligence inputs suggesting that sleeper cells and individuals in Rajasthan were channeling funds to extremist groups.
