ATS carries out searches at 15 locations in Parbhani in pre-dawn operation, seizes digital devices
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: In a major security operation that began before dawn on Saturday, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) conducted simultaneous searches at 15 locations across Parbhani district, seizing mobile phones, laptops and pen drives that will now undergo forensic examination f
By Mohammed Akhef
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: In a major security operation that began before dawn on Saturday, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) conducted simultaneous searches at 15 locations across Parbhani district, seizing mobile phones, laptops and pen drives that will now undergo forensic examination for possible links to extremist activities.“Such actions are often undertaken to verify intelligence inputs, assess potential threats and gather information before any further investigative steps are initiated,” said one of the ATS officials coordinating with the teams that carried out the searches.Multiple ATS teams from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Parbhani and Nanded, accompanied by officials from central agencies, reached Parbhani district late on Friday night, identified the homes to be searched and accordingly deployed the ATS teams backed by local police.
The coordinated operation was launched around 4am, when the ATS teams carrying search warrants knocked on the doors of the identified homes.
The exercise continued for several hours before being called off in the afternoon.Officials said that though nothing objectionable was found during the searches, the digital devices of these 15 people were seized as a part of precautionary measure.These devices would be analysed to determine whether they had been used to access, store, circulate or promote any extremist content or suspicious communications.
The forensic scrutiny is expected to focus on digital footprints, communication patterns and online activities of the users, said an ATS officer.“The search was a deterrence action,” a senior ATS official told TOI, while elaborating that the operation was aimed at preventing and detecting activities that could pose a security concern.
The official, however, declined to share details regarding the intelligence inputs that led to the operation or the identities of those whose premises were searched.The scale and secrecy of the operation caught even local authorities by surprise.
Senior Parbhani police officers said they were not aware of the ATS action until they were approached for security arrangements shortly before the searches commenced.
Following the request, a substantial police bandobast was deployed in and around the targeted localities to ensure law and order and facilitate the operation.Officials said the operation was carried out peacefully and no law-and-order issues were reported during or after the searches.No official information was available till late on Saturday evening as to what prompted the searches by the ATS.
Further action, officials said, would depend on the outcome of the ongoing examination of the seized devices.Stay updated with the latest Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar news.
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