{
  "id": 14273539,
  "title": "Maharashtra: 5 Women Under ATS Scanner Over Suspected Link With Hizbul Mujahideen After Joining International Religious WhatsApp Group",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/maharashtra-5-women-under-ats-scanner-over-suspected-link-with-hizbul",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T18:36:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/maharashtra-5-women-under-ats-scanner-over-suspected-link-with-hizbul-mujahideen-after-joining-international-religious-whatsapp-group"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mumbai, October 13, 2026: Five Indian women from various parts of Maharashtra have come under the scanner of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) after joining an international WhatsApp group suspected to have connections with the Pakistan-based militant group Hizbul Mujahideen. The ATS is probing the group's international membership, cross-border communications and possible links to establish if the platform was being used for activities beyond reported religious discussions. Searches were carried out in Mumbai, Pune, Ratnagiri, Solapur and Thane districts. The five primary suspects, all women aged between 25 and 30, are studying or teaching Arabic. They were found to be active members of the WhatsApp group and shared Islamic religious content, including verses from the Quran. In Ratnagiri district, an Arabic teacher and her family were questioned and their mobile phones were seized for forensic examination. The investigation is ongoing, focusing on the nature of the group's activities, communication patterns and wider network of contacts.",
  "summary": "Mumbai, October 13, 2026: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) is investigating an international WhatsApp group over suspected links to Pakistan-based militant organisation Hizbul Mujahideen, which was joined by five young Indian women from different parts of the state. Investigators are examining the group’s membership, cross-border communications and possible contacts to establish whether…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}