ATS raids in Maharashtra: 1 detained in Akola for suspected subversive activities

Nagpur: A gaming app and several social media profiles have come under the scanner of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) following intelligence inputs that anti-national elements based outside India may have used these platforms to communicate with individuals within the country. Based on the inputs, ATS teams on Wednesday conducted inquiries and field visits across Vidarbha, including Chandrapur and Bhandara districts, sources said. As part of the operation, one suspect was detained from Akola for questioning.Sources said the detained individual is believed to be a resident of Washim district and was picked up earlier in the day by ATS officials. Authorities have not issued any official statement so far, and the identity of the individual has been kept confidential due to the sensitive nature of the investigation.Sources further indicated that the investigation is linked to individuals allegedly associated with Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti and networks suspected of attempting to expand their footprint in Maharashtra.ATS teams reportedly narrowed down multiple suspects across Maharashtra and launched coordinated inquiries at several locations.In Chandrapur, ATS officials questioned an individual over alleged suspicious social media activity. Confirming the development, Chandrapur SP Ayush Nopany said an ATS team had visited the district in connection with a specific inquiry. "They had information regarding a person's alleged doubtful social media and gaming activities, so they summoned him for questioning, but nothing suspicious was found," he clarified.A similar operation was carried out in Bhandara district, where ATS personnel reportedly summoned a local resident for questioning in connection with alleged anti-national social media links. SP Noorul Hasan confirmed this, adding that while ATS officials were present in the district for the probe, detailed information could officially be shared only by the agency concerned.Sources within the department added that while some of the persons questioned were found to be active users of the game under scrutiny, investigators did not find evidence suggesting their direct involvement in communication with anti-national entities, as suspected. Officials from the Nagpur unit of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad confirmed that no such inquiry was conducted within Nagpur district limits. Additional CP Shivaji Rathod also stated that Nagpur Police were not part of any such operation, confirming the same.However, officials maintained that the broader inquiry remains highly confidential and is being supervised directly by ATS headquarters. The probe is reportedly still underway.