Suspected Terrorist Alam's Big Revelation: ISIS Planned Serial Blasts Across Gujarat To Avenge Godhra Incident

The ISIS (Islamic State) had set its eyes on several places in Gujarat to carry out serial bomb blasts, Mohammad Shahnawaz Alam, a terror suspect associated in the Pune ISIS module case, has informed the NIA.

Reports in the Hindi media claim that he has made big revelations during the investigation that key locations that they wanted to target were: Ahmedabad, Gandhi Nagar, Surat, and Vadodara.

Shahnawaz Alam has confessed that they wanted to carry out blasts at Gujarat's BJP headquarters, RSS headquarters, Vishwa Hindu Parishad headquarters, High Court, District Court, universities, temples, mosques, Jewish places of worship, railway stations, and crowded markets.

Using rented bikes and scooters, they surveyed areas like Bohra Mosque, Dargah, Mazar of Ahmedabad, Dargah, and Sabarmati Ashram and recorded the places through their camera.

Alam has reportedly told the investigation agency that, acting on the instructions of his handler Abu Suleman, and in collaboration with his associates Rizwan Ali and Imran, the group aimed to target Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Surat. The motive behind these attacks, as revealed by Alam, was to retaliate against the Godhra riots in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to reports.

The terrorists arrived in Ahmedabad in January 2023, where they extensively documented various sites, including railway stations, cinema halls, universities, VIP and VVIP routes, politicians' houses, crowded markets, mosques, and historic landmarks like Sabarmati Ashram.

Then they moved to Gandhinagar, surveying the RSS office, VHP office, BJP office, Gujarat High Court, and District Sessions Court. Thereafter, they proceeded to Vadodara, conducting surveillance on the District Court, Civil Court, and Railway Station, the reports added.

Subsequently, the terrorists headed to Surat, capturing pictures of the Jewish Center and conducting reconnaissance at prominent temples, including Heera Bazaar, District Court, and the ISKCON Temple.

Upon returning to Mumbai, the terrorists compiled a comprehensive presentation, including photographs and videos of potential targets, which was forwarded to Abu Suleman. Notably, dozens of bomb-making photographs were discovered on Shahnawaz Alam's mobile phone.

Shahnawaz, also known as Shafi Ujjama, was a fugitive listed on the NIA's most wanted. A reward of Rs 3 lakh was offered for his capture. In October, he and two accomplices were apprehended during joint operations conducted by the NIA, Delhi Police, and Pune Police.

Shahnawaz was a key figure in the Pune ISIS module case and had previously escaped police custody in Pune. Following his escape, he had been hiding in Delhi until his arrest.

A trained engineer, Shahnawaz first came to attention when two individuals, initially apprehended for motorcycle theft in Pune, disclosed his involvement. Initially dismissed as common thieves, further interrogation revealed their ties to ISIS as part of a sleeper cell. Subsequently, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad.