A 20‑year‑old resident of Navi Mumbai was taken into custody on suspicion of collecting intelligence on the city’s Chabad House and other sites linked to Jewish communities and foreign nationals. Indian news agency PTI reported the arrest on Saturday, quoting an official who said the suspect was allegedly acting under instructions from overseas handlers in return for payment.
The accused, identified as Yash Singh, a resident of Airoli in Navi Mumbai, was first detained by the Maharashtra Anti‑Terrorism Squad (ATS) following intelligence indicating his contacts on social media with individuals suspected of engaging in anti‑national activities.
He was later apprehended by a Kerala Police team as part of an ongoing investigation in the Thrissur district of southern India.
During questioning, Singh reportedly told investigators that handlers reached out via social media, some linked to criminal gangs and subversive elements, directing him to collect information on sensitive locations in South Mumbai, especially the Colaba area.
His assignments involved photographing and pinpointing the locations of the Chabad House, Jewish‑owned establishments, and venues frequented by foreign nationals. The official cited in the report said Singh was paid for performing these tasks.
Investigators found that Singh maintained direct contact with handlers through Telegram. They also identified connections between Singh and another suspect already arrested in a case being probed by the Thrissur East police station under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which is employed to prosecute terrorism‑related offenses.
Based on information supplied by the Maharashtra Anti‑Terrorism Squad, investigators from Thrissur traveled to Navi Mumbai and executed the arrest.
Foreign Criminal Networks Recruit Youth for Intelligence Operations, Officials Warn
The report also quoted warnings from law enforcement officials about criminal networks operating outside India, including a Pakistan‑based network identified as “Shehzad Bhatti.”
According to officials, these networks leverage Telegram, Instagram, and WhatsApp to recruit unemployed youth or those experiencing financial difficulty, offering monetary compensation for intelligence gathering and other tasks.
The report did not, however, clarify whether Singh was recruited or directed by that specific network.
Mumbai’s Chabad House, commonly referred to as Nariman House, was one of the sites attacked during the November 2008 terrorist assaults in the city. The suspicion that intelligence was being collected on the facility therefore highlights a location that has previously been targeted in a terrorist attack against Jews.
Officials from India’s Anti‑Terrorism Squad urged parents and young people to stay alert to overtures from unknown individuals online and to refrain from sharing photographs or details about sensitive locations for monetary gain.
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