Rameshwaram Cafe blast planner Farhatullah Ghori calls for coordinated attack on Indian Railways and on Hindu leaders
Attacks on Railways: Ghori instructed his followers to target India’s railway network, outlining methods for creating explosive devices using pressure cookers. He emphasised the importance of disrupting the railway system as a means of sowing chaos and fear.
Petroleum Pipelines and Logistical Disruption: He advocated for attacks on petroleum pipelines and logistics chains to cause widespread disruption. Ghori believed these actions will create significant challenges for India’s infrastructure.
Targeting Hindu Leaders and Police: The video included calls for violence against Hindu leaders and law enforcement officials. Ghori encouraged his followers to experiment with different attack tactics to find the most effective methods.
Ghori accused the Indian government of targeting sleeper cells by seising their assets through agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). He warned that despite these efforts, his network will persist and eventually succeed in destabilising the Government.
Farhatullah Ghori, also known by several aliases including Abu Sufiyan, Sardar Sahab, and Faru, is a key figure in international terrorism. His extremist activities span multiple high-profile attacks:
2002 Akshardham Temple Attack: Ghori is accused of masterminding this attack in Gujarat, which claimed over 30 lives and injured 80 others.
2005 Hyderabad Task Force Office Attack: He was also involved in a suicide bombing targeting a police office in Hyderabad.
Ghori has long been on the radar of Indian intelligence agencies due to his connections with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and his role in orchestrating various terrorist activities. His recent video further solidifies his status as a significant threat.
The NIA has been actively investigating the Rameshwaram Cafe blast, which occurred on March 1 and injured at least 10 people. The agency has made significant progress in the case:
On April 12, the NIA arrested Abdul Matheen Ahmed Taahaa and Mussavir Hussain Shazib in Kolkata. Taahaa is alleged to be the mastermind behind the blast, while Shazib is accused of placing the explosive device. Both were captured under assumed identities.
Along with Taahaa and Shazib, Maaz Muneer Ahmed and Muzammil Shareef, who are also connected to the attack, have been detained. These individuals are suspected of being part of the same Islamic State (IS) module operating in Karnataka’s Shivamogga.
The NIA is examining potential links between Ghori’s video and the recent sabotage incidents on Indian railways. Authorities are investigating whether the video’s directives are connected to the broader activities of sleeper cells in India.
The Indian intelligence agencies are working to assess the full extent of Ghori’s sleeper cell network and its potential impact on national security. The video’s threats have led to increased security measures across the country, particularly around critical infrastructure and transport systems.