Gujarat ATS arrests key Bengaluru-based woman who spread jihadi content on social media
In a major development in its crackdown on online radicalisation, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested a 29-year-old woman from Bengaluru, accused of operating social media accounts used to spread jihadist propaganda, incite communal hatred, and encourage armed rebellion against the Indian state.The woman, identified as Shama Parveen, daughter of Shamsul Ansari and a resident of RT Nagar in Bengaluru, was taken into custody by Gujarat ATS officials on July 29, following leads obtained from an earlier case in which four men—arrested from Ahmedabad, Modasa, Delhi, and Noida—were found circulating radical content linked to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).According to senior ATS officials, Shama allegedly managed a network of Instagram and Facebook accounts under the names strangers\_nation02 and 3sanu\_pe4, where she disseminated speeches by top AQIS leaders, including Maulana Asim Umar, promoting Ghazwa-e-Hind, armed jihad, and anti-national sentiments.The investigation also revealed that her accounts shared radical sermons by Anwar al-Awlaki, a key al-Qaeda ideologue, and Maulana Abdul Aziz of Lal Masjid, Lahore – both known for inciting violence and religious extremism. The content was primarily aimed at mobilising Indian Muslim youth through emotionally charged narratives of persecution and religious duty.The Gujarat ATS, in coordination with central intelligence agencies and Bengaluru Police, traced the origin of the propaganda to Shama Parveen’s digital footprint. She was arrested following a covert operation and brought to Ahmedabad on a transit remand. She remains in ATS custody for further interrogation.Officials said Shama was in regular contact with individuals based in Pakistan via WhatsApp, and had been active in posting radical content online for nearly five years. Forensic analysis of her mobile phone and laptop has uncovered a trove of suspicious material, including unverified email accounts, private chat logs, and social media activity connecting her to foreign-based handlers.One of the arrested men from the earlier case, Mohammad Faiq, was found to have reposted content originally sourced from Shama’s Instagram page on his own handle, sharyat\ya\shahadat. He reportedly translated the material into English and shared it within his network.Shama, a BCom graduate originally from Jharkhand, had been living in Bengaluru with her mother and brother. Her family told investigators that she had become increasingly withdrawn in recent years, dedicating herself to religious study and keeping largely to herself. They claimed to have not known about her online activities or alleged involvement in extremist propaganda.Speaking to Gujarat Samachar Digital, a senior ATS official said:“This operation demonstrates the deep-rooted threat posed by digital radicalisation networks. Shama Parveen’s arrest is a crucial step in dismantling one such operation. The focus now is on tracing the full extent of her online influence and international contacts.”A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions related to incitement to violence and terrorism.Further investigation is underway to determine whether the content Shama circulated was self-authored or procured from external sources, and whether additional individuals are part of the network.
In a major development in its crackdown on online radicalisation, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested a 29-year-old woman from Bengaluru, accused of operating social media accounts used to spread jihadist propaganda, incite communal hatred, and encourage armed rebellion against the Indian state.
The woman, identified as Shama Parveen, daughter of Shamsul Ansari and a resident of RT Nagar in Bengaluru, was taken into custody by Gujarat ATS officials on July 29, following leads obtained from an earlier case in which four men—arrested from Ahmedabad, Modasa, Delhi, and Noida—were found circulating radical content linked to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).
According to senior ATS officials, Shama allegedly managed a network of Instagram and Facebook accounts under the names strangers\_nation02 and 3sanu\_pe4, where she disseminated speeches by top AQIS leaders, including Maulana Asim Umar, promoting Ghazwa-e-Hind, armed jihad, and anti-national sentiments.
The investigation also revealed that her accounts shared radical sermons by Anwar al-Awlaki, a key al-Qaeda ideologue, and Maulana Abdul Aziz of Lal Masjid, Lahore – both known for inciting violence and religious extremism. The content was primarily aimed at mobilising Indian Muslim youth through emotionally charged narratives of persecution and religious duty.
The Gujarat ATS, in coordination with central intelligence agencies and Bengaluru Police, traced the origin of the propaganda to Shama Parveen’s digital footprint. She was arrested following a covert operation and brought to Ahmedabad on a transit remand. She remains in ATS custody for further interrogation.
Officials said Shama was in regular contact with individuals based in Pakistan via WhatsApp, and had been active in posting radical content online for nearly five years. Forensic analysis of her mobile phone and laptop has uncovered a trove of suspicious material, including unverified email accounts, private chat logs, and social media activity connecting her to foreign-based handlers.
One of the arrested men from the earlier case, Mohammad Faiq, was found to have reposted content originally sourced from Shama’s Instagram page on his own handle, sharyat\ya\shahadat. He reportedly translated the material into English and shared it within his network.
Shama, a BCom graduate originally from Jharkhand, had been living in Bengaluru with her mother and brother. Her family told investigators that she had become increasingly withdrawn in recent years, dedicating herself to religious study and keeping largely to herself. They claimed to have not known about her online activities or alleged involvement in extremist propaganda.
Speaking to Gujarat Samachar Digital, a senior ATS official said:
“This operation demonstrates the deep-rooted threat posed by digital radicalisation networks. Shama Parveen’s arrest is a crucial step in dismantling one such operation. The focus now is on tracing the full extent of her online influence and international contacts.”
A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions related to incitement to violence and terrorism.
Further investigation is underway to determine whether the content Shama circulated was self-authored or procured from external sources, and whether additional individuals are part of the network.
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