A 20-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly carried out reconnaissance of multiple sensitive locations in Mumbai, including the Chabad House, a Jewish community centre, at the behest of international criminal syndicates and anti-national elements, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) said.The accused has been identified as Yash Singh. He was initially detained by the ATS following inputs about his alleged social media links with anti-national handlers.He was later taken into custody by the Keralam police in connection with a case registered in Thrissur district, the ATS said.Singh's interrogation allegedly revealed that anti-national elements and social media handlers linked to a criminal syndicate had tasked him with sending photographs, vehicle details and precise sensitive areas of South Mumbai, especially around Colaba.
Besides the exact location of the Chabad House, he was also asked to share details of Jewish-owned businesses and locations frequented by Jews and foreign nationals, officials said.He was found to have received money in exchange for carrying out the assigned tasks, per the ATS officials. The development comes amid persistent security concerns arising as an indirect result of the ongoing hostilities in West Asia involving Israel.Moreover, Chabad House, also known as Nariman House, holds significance in India's security history, having been among the sites targeted by Pakistani terrorists during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008.The Maharashtra ATS probe also allegedly revealed that Singh used Telegram to maintain contact with anti-national elements.He was also found to be linked to an accused arrested in an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case registered at Kerala's Thrissur East police station, the officials said.Following this, a team from Kerala's Thrissur Police arrived in Navi Mumbai and questioned Yash Singh.
After establishing his alleged involvement in the case, the Kerala Police arrested him in connection with the matter, per the ATS.The ATS said international criminal syndicates, anti-national elements and foreign-based criminal masterminds, including the Shahzad Bhatti network, were allegedly targeting unemployed and financially distressed young people through social media platforms such as Telegram, Instagram and WhatsApp.Officials said the nefarious elements lure such people with money to carry out activities that could threaten national security.The ATS is taking steps to identify and track such individuals, they added.The agency also urged citizens, particularly parents and young people, not to share photographs or recce details of sensitive locations with unknown individuals on social media or fall prey to offers of money in exchange for such information.- Ends(With additional inputs from PTI)