The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested two individuals, including a minor, for allegedly hacking Indian websites, posting anti-national messages, and sharing the evidence of their activities on a Telegram channel during ‘Operation Sindoor’. The main accused has been identified as Jaseem Shahnawaz Ansari, a resident of Nadiad.
According to news agency ANI, the arrests were made after Gujarat ATS received intelligence inputs regarding continuous cyberattacks on Indian websites by suspected anti-national elements.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Gujarat ATS, Sunil Joshi, said, “We often get inputs that hackers attack different websites. During the recent Operation Sindoor, we received several similar inputs that anti-national elements are continuously attacking Indian websites.”
He added that Gujarat ATS Inspector Dhruv Prajapati had received specific information pointing to the involvement of Jaseem Shahnawaz Ansari and a minor boy. “They were running a Telegram channel called ‘AnonSec’. On their channel, they share evidence of having hacked websites,” DIG Joshi said.
Based on this input, an ATS team was formed and an investigation was launched. The mobile phones of both suspects were sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). The analysis revealed that the duo had initially created a Telegram channel named ‘EXPLOITXSEC’ and a backup channel ‘ELITEXPLOIT’, which was later renamed ‘AnonSec’.
“They made the backup channel because if their channel is taken down for some reason, they can continue their activity through the backup channel,” DIG Joshi explained.
Gujarat Duo Attempted To Target Indian Government Websites, Including Aadhaar Card Portal
As per preliminary investigations, the duo was allegedly in an attempt was made to target Indian government websites, including the Aadhaar card portal, news agency IANS reported. The suspects are accused of having affiliations with anti-India groups and are believed to have acted with the intent to disrupt official digital systems.
According to IANS, sources within the ATS revealed that both accused individuals are matriculation-level passouts. Despite their limited formal education, they reportedly acquired substantial technical knowledge through YouTube tutorials and other online resources to execute cyber intrusions.
Investigators are currently probing whether any sensitive Indian data was accessed or shared with entities in Pakistan as part of the operation. The full extent of the cyberattack and the network involved is still under investigation.
Cybercrime Cases Rise In Gujarat
The arrests come amid a significant rise in cybercrime cases across Gujarat in recent years. In 2023 alone, the state recorded nearly 1.21 lakh cyber fraud complaints—averaging approximately 333 complaints per day. These crimes led to financial losses totalling Rs 650.53 crore, underscoring the increasing complexity and reach of cyber fraud in the region, IANS reported.
However, data highlights a stark gap between the number of complaints filed and actual police action. Between January 2020 and May 2023, only 1,233 First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered out of more than 1.59 lakh complaints—translating to a conversion rate of less than 0.8 per cent. This points to significant systemic challenges in tackling cybercrime, including resource constraints, lack of specialised training, and procedural inefficiencies.
In response to the growing cyber threat, the Gujarat government and the State Police Department have introduced digital platforms like the iPRAGATI portal to enhance case tracking and streamline communication with complainants.
