In a significant breakthrough, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a woman believed to be a key recruiter for Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). Identified as Sama Parveen, the accused had been operating out of a rented apartment in the Muniramapalya area of Bengaluru for the past three years.
Originally from Jharkhand, Sama moved to Bengaluru with her brother, who works in the city. Though previously employed at a private company, she had recently become jobless—but remained highly active on social media, particularly Instagram. According to investigators, she used her digital presence to propagate extremist ideologies and connect with potential recruits, targeting impressionable youth through radical content.
Authorities claim that Sama was deeply involved with several pro-terror channels on Instagram, where she not only shared but also engaged with posts promoting violent ideologies. Her role, as suspected by officials, extended beyond mere propaganda — she allegedly played a part in recruiting and coordinating activities for AQIS cells across India.
Her arrest follows an earlier crackdown by the ATS on July 23, when four young men—Mohammad Faik, Mohammad Fardin, Modassar Saifullah Qureshi, and Zeeshan Ali—were detained from different cities, including Gujarat, Delhi, and Noida. Aged between 20 and 25, these men were reportedly in regular contact with Sama via social media platforms. Their interrogation ultimately led investigators to her.
Officials believe the group of five had established a digital network, exchanging radical materials and coordinating missions across India. ATS sources also revealed that Sama maintained regular communication with extremist elements beyond India’s borders and was allegedly involved in plotting attacks at sensitive locations within the country.
A search at the home of one of the earlier accused revealed books linked to banned organizations and documents reflecting opposition to initiatives like ‘Operation Sindoor’—which are believed to have been points of discussion among the group members.
After her arrest, Sama was produced in court, where Gujarat ATS was granted transit remand to take her to Gujarat for further interrogation. Investigators are now focusing on uncovering the full extent of her involvement and mapping out her connections with other radical groups, both domestic and international.
Authorities suspect Sama to be a key orchestrator in the AQIS network operating in India, and she is currently being subjected to rigorous questioning and digital forensic analysis to trace further leads.
