Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh: Two youths recently arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in connection with a broader investigation into alleged terrorist activities in India were found to have studied together at a madrassa in Budhana town, Uttar Pradesh, officials confirmed on Thursday.

The arrested individuals, Azad Suleman Sheikh, a tailor from Jhinjhana town in Shamli district, and Mohammad Suhail Khan from Lakhimpur Kheri, were enrolled at the same religious institution, according to the madrassa management and police sources. Both had pursued Hafiz-e-Quran studies, focusing on memorizing the Quran, though their periods of attendance did not overlap fully.

Madrassa Head Confirms Students’ Background

Speaking to PTI, Maulana Daud, the ‘mohtamim’ (head) of the Budhana madrassa, confirmed that the two youths had studied at the institution but had left well before their arrests. He clarified that the madrassa strictly provides religious education and is not connected to any illegal or unlawful activities.

“Azad Sheikh studied here from 2018 to 2019. He left when the madrassa was closed during the COVID-19 lockdown and never returned,” Maulana Daud said. Regarding Khan, he added, “Suhail joined about three months ago for Hafiz studies but left on November 5, citing his father’s illness. He has not come back since then.”

The madrassa head also mentioned that he learned about the arrests through media reports, emphasizing that the institution has no involvement in the activities for which the youths were taken into custody.

Family Members Claim Innocence

Sheikh’s father, Suleman, a construction worker based in Jhinjhana, told PTI that his son was innocent and the family had no knowledge of how he ended up in Gujarat. He said, “My son had gone on a 40-day Tablighi Jamaat trip to West Bengal. Later, he told us he was going back to his madrassa, but he never reached there. We came to know about his arrest through the news.”

Ongoing Investigation

Shamli Superintendent of Police N P Singh stated that the Gujarat ATS had taken Sheikh into custody for questioning, while the Uttar Pradesh ATS is conducting a parallel inquiry into his background. Authorities are reportedly examining Sheikh’s bank accounts, local connections, and other records, but no passport has been found in his name.

Both Sheikh and Khan were arrested by the Gujarat ATS on November 8, although officials have not disclosed further details about the case, citing ongoing investigations. Authorities have also emphasized that their educational background at the madrassa does not imply any link between the institution and alleged criminal activities.

This development underscores the efforts of state ATS units to track individuals suspected of involvement in terrorist activities across state lines, while also highlighting the careful distinction law enforcement maintains between suspects’ personal affiliations and educational institutions.

Investigators are focusing on piecing together the youths’ movements, associations, and possible motivations leading up to their arrests. The ongoing probe by multiple agencies reflects the complex network of inquiries spanning across Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, aimed at identifying potential links to broader terror-related activities.