Gujarat ATS Foils Suspected Terror Plot, Arrests Three Including Doctor Over Ricin Poison Link

Ahmedabad, November 9 — The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested three people, including a doctor, for allegedly plotting a terror attack involving the deadly poison ricin, reportedly under the guidance of a handler based in Pakistan. Officials said the suspects were planning to carry out a large-scale attack using the highly toxic substance, which can cause death even in minute quantities.

According to ATS sources, the accused were in contact with a foreign handler through encrypted communication platforms. Investigators recovered a suspicious liquid substance, laboratory equipment, and digital devices from their possession. The material has been sent for forensic testing to confirm if it contains ricin, a poison derived from castor beans that is lethal even in micro doses.

The arrested individuals have been identified as a doctor and two accomplices, all residents of Gujarat. ATS officials suspect that they had been radicalized online and were exploring ways to manufacture and deploy the toxin. Authorities believe the plan was in its early stages but could have resulted in mass casualties had it not been intercepted in time.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the group’s foreign contact provided detailed instructions for developing the toxin and executing the plot. The doctor’s medical expertise allegedly played a key role in handling and experimenting with the poisonous material.

A senior ATS officer said, “We received credible intelligence inputs about a potential bioterror threat. Acting swiftly, our team detained the suspects and seized materials from their laboratory setup. The investigation is ongoing, and the involvement of foreign handlers is being closely verified.”

The ATS has filed charges under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. Central agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), are likely to join the probe to examine possible cross-border connections.

Experts have described ricin as one of the world’s most potent biological toxins, with no known antidote. Its use in any terror plot poses a grave national security threat. The arrests underscore the increasing concern over unconventional weapons being explored by extremist networks.