Ricin terror plot: 2 of 3 suspects held in Gujarat studied together at UP madrassa

Mohammad Suhail, 20, (L), Azad Suleman Sheikh, 23.

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has found that two of the three suspects arrested in the alleged ricin terror plot case had studied together at a madrassa in UP’s Muzaffarnagar.

The two men, Azad Suleman Sheikh, 20, of Shamli; and Mohammad Suhail, 23, of Lakhimpur Kheri, were arrested on November 9 after information was obtained from the mobile phone of the primary suspect, Dr Ahmed Mohiyuddin Saiyed. According to a report by The Indian Express, senior officials said the trio were trying to produce Ricin.

While their families claimed the men were innocent, police had said the accused were allegedly planning to use the lethal toxin ricin to carry out terror attacks at crowded locations, including a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) office in Lucknow, the Azadpur Mandi in Delhi, and the Naroda fruit market in Ahmedabad.

Azad’s elder brother, Shezad Saifi, who works as a construction labourer in Sonipat, told the newspaper: “Before Covid, Azad was studying at a madrassa in Muzaffarnagar’s Budhana. During the lockdown, the madrassa shut so I took him with me to Sonipat, where he did odd jobs — repairing sewing machines etc. Once the madrassa reopened, he returned to his studies.”

Azad’s family said about two months ago, he had returned from a Jamaat trip to West Bengal, where he had gone along with 12 others.

“On November 7, he said he was going to the madrassa … On November 8… I received a call from a police officer in Gujarat about Azad’s arrest. There must be some misunderstanding,” he added.

As per the report, the family said they were aware that Suhail, who is from Lakhimpur Kheri’s Nighasan, was also studying at the same madrassa.

Suhail’s father, Mohammad Saleem, was quoted by IE a saying: “Around three years ago, when the Covid situation improved, Suhail joined the madrassa in Muzaffarnagar to pursue Hafiz studies.” He said the family learned about Suhail’s arrest only after receiving a call from the police.

Denying his son’s involvement in any illegal activities, he told the newspaper: “He had last come home in June and returned to the madrassa a few days later.”

Giving further details, Suhail’s father said they are unaware of how his son reached Ahmedabad and also didn’t know about Azad.

Mohammad Qayyum, Chairman of Singhai Nagar Panchayat in Lakhimpur Kheri, was quoted by the newspaper as saying: “They (the family) are simple people… I have no knowledge about the case in which Saleem’s son has been booked.”