Ahmedabad: A woman arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) for allegedly promoting Al-Qaeda’s ideology had urged Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir to invade India during “Operation Sindoor” in a bid to “unify Muslim lands” under “Project Khilafat,” officials said.
Shama Parveen Ansari was taken into custody from her residence in Bengaluru on July 29. She is accused of disseminating propaganda on behalf of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), a proscribed terrorist organization, through her social media platforms.
According to the ATS, Ansari operated two Facebook pages and one Instagram account, collectively followed by over 10,000 users. These platforms were used to share radical, jihadist, and anti-India content linked to AQIS and other extremist preachers.
On May 9, two days after India launched Operation Sindoor targeting terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Ansari posted a message on Facebook calling upon Gen. Munir to seize the “golden opportunity” to attack India. The post, which featured Munir’s photograph, read:
“You have a golden opportunity… adopt Project Khilafat for the implementation of Islam, unify Muslim lands, and march forward to eliminate Hindutva and Zionism… So march forward.”
In another post shared via Instagram, a radical preacher could be heard criticizing Indian Muslims for supporting the Indian Army and condemning the Pahalgam terror attack.
The ATS further reported that Ansari shared a video clip featuring Abdul Aziz, the Imam of Lahore’s Lal Masjid, making inflammatory statements advocating for the establishment of a Khilafat system in India through armed rebellion.
A third video allegedly shared by Ansari showed an AQIS leader promoting the concept of “Ghazwa-e-Hind” and inciting violence against the Indian state, specifically targeting the Hindu community and democratic institutions.
Investigations revealed that Ansari was in contact with one of four individuals arrested earlier for circulating provocative material through their Instagram accounts. These individuals, including two from Gujarat, were apprehended in a multi-state operation.
All five accused have been booked under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
