Samastipur/Mumbai: A 21-year-old man from Bihar’s Samastipur district has been arrested in Mumbai by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) over alleged links with Pakistan’s intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and suspected contacts with terrorist organisations, officials said.
The accused, identified as Murshid Zahir Akhtar Sheikh, a resident of Shiura panchayat under Shahpur Patori police station limits, is alleged to have been in communication with individuals linked to Pakistan-based groups. Authorities claim he was working in coordination with them, though these allegations have not been independently verified.
According to officials familiar with the investigation, Sheikh had been under surveillance for some time due to what they described as “suspicious activities”. He was detained in Mumbai after what the ATS said was the collection of “sufficient evidence”, and is currently being interrogated.
Investigators also allege that Sheikh operated a biryani shop in Mumbai with his brothers, which is suspected to have been used as a cover for activities linked to a wider network. Officials have not provided details of the evidence supporting this claim.
Security agencies believe the network under scrutiny may extend across multiple Indian states, including Bihar, and that further arrests cannot be ruled out as the investigation progresses.
The arrest has prompted renewed scrutiny of earlier cases in the region. In March, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested an individual near Patori railway station in connection with an alleged fake currency racket, during which possible links to terror financing were also examined.
Locals in Sheikh’s village said his family is economically disadvantaged. He is one of eight siblings, and some family members reportedly work in Mumbai. The family has not issued a public statement on the arrest.
Following the detention, discussions have spread in the local area, with residents expressing concern about the possibility of wider networks operating in the region. Officials, however, have not confirmed any broader link at this stage, and investigations are ongoing.
