Ahmedabad, May 22 — Indian authorities have arrested an 18-year-old man accused of orchestrating cyberattacks on multiple government websites in the wake of Operation Sindoor, a military response launched after a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) said Jasim Shahnawaz Ansari, a resident of Nadiad and a 12th-grade school dropout, was taken into custody for allegedly attempting to crash at least 20 Indian government websites on May 7, the day Operation Sindoor commenced. Officials described the suspect as a self-taught programmer whose activities were motivated by ideological radicalisation rather than financial gain.
“The accused has demonstrated advanced programming skills, but his actions were driven by extremist views. He shared provocative anti-India messages and attempted cyber sabotage during a period of heightened national security,” said Virjit Parmar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Gujarat ATS.
Investigators say Ansari disseminated inflammatory messages via Telegram, including threats suggesting retaliatory attacks against India. His group is believed to have targeted more than 50 central and state government websites in recent months.
A case was registered against him on May 19 at the ATS Police Station under sections 66(F) and 43 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Section 66(F) pertains to cyberterrorism, while Section 43 addresses unauthorised access and damage to computer systems.
The arrest comes amid increased scrutiny by Indian security agencies on digital platforms, including the dark web, following central and state government directives to clamp down on anti-national activities after Operation Sindoor.
Authorities said further investigations are underway to identify other members of the alleged cyber cell linked to Ansari.
