Mumbai man arrested over suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed links, Pakistan intelligence angle under probe

Mumbai's Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has apprehended a 33-year-old resident from Mahim for alleged connections with the banned terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and for disseminating inflammatory material associated with the group. The accused, Mohammed Hasan Abu Sarmad Akhtar, was discovered via intelligence inputs concerning his radical online activities, which included posts on social media and materials shared through Telegram groups.

Police apprehended Akhtar near the Mahim Metro station in the Laxmi Building area. He was a Rapido bike-taxi rider and a perfume seller in Mahim. Police seized his mobile phone and are currently examining its contents to extract digital evidence and trace his online associates. According to the ATS, Akhtar's Instagram account, 'hassanshekh6603', posted a comment on September 8, 2026, about a security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Mumbai, inciting violence against the PM akin to former PM Indira Gandhi.

In addition, numerous posts on his Instagram and X accounts promoted armed jihad and urged members of the Muslim community to engage in armed struggle. The ATS also revealed that Akhtar ran a Telegram group where he uploaded recordings of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar's speeches on the Babri Masjid issue and other topics on June 1.

Akhtar was also identified as an active member of 'Ibn-e-Qasim', a Pakistan-backed extremist Telegram channel used for propaganda. The ATS is currently scrutinizing the digital material and investigating Akhtar's online connections to determine whether his activities extended beyond posting and sharing content. A case has been filed against Akhtar under Section 196(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to inciting enmity between groups based on religion, language, or other factors, and activities that undermine communal harmony.

The ATS is awaiting forensic examination reports from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) concerning the seized mobile phone. Depending on the evidence of direct membership in JeM or involvement in a terrorist conspiracy, the ATS may also pursue additional charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The investigation is also looking into whether other individuals in Mumbai or elsewhere in Maharashtra were involved.