ATS arrests Mahim man on charge of Jaish-e-Mohammed links, audio of Masood Azhar speeches found

The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Mumbai has arrested Mohammed Hasan Abu Sarmad Akhtar, 33, from the Mahim area on the charge of having links with Jaish-e-Mohammed. The action has caused alarm across the area.

The ATS's Kalachowki unit picked up Akhtar from the Laxmi Building premises near Mahim Metro station. The ATS claims that inflammatory posts and messages supporting jihad were found on the accused's mobile phone during the action.

According to information available, some audio recordings of speeches by Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar were also found on his phone. Masood Azhar has been described as the head of the Pakistan-based terror organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed. The accused has also been charged with making an objectionable comment on a news report about security lapses during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Mumbai.

The accused is said to have sold perfume and to have been a bike rider as well. Police also suspect that he incited Muslims to take up arms through social media posts. The police investigation has found that he ran a Telegram group and uploaded audio of Masood Azhar's speeches to it.

Police have registered a case against him under Section 196(1) of the BNS. The ATS is currently examining his contacts with Pakistani intelligence agencies and his online activity. Other suspected contacts are also being questioned so that the full picture becomes clear.

Police are continuing the investigation. It is expected that further questioning of Mohammed Hasan could yield important information for the investigating agencies and that significant details could emerge from the probe.