ATS raid in Thane revealed a village declared as an Islamic State-style zone by ex-terror convict Sakib Dance. Weapons, propaganda, and suspected international links indicate a larger radicalization conspiracy.
Anshu Kashid
Pune | 07 June,2025: In Maharashtra’s largest-ever anti-terror operation, shocking revelations have surfaced about a village near Mumbai allegedly being declared as part of an Islamic State-style regime.
On June 2, a 400-member force led by Maharashtra ATS raided Borivali village, near Padha in Bhiwandi taluka, Thane, just 72 km from Mumbai’s financial hub. More than 400 police personnel seal the village.
Acting on a terror-related tip, a 22-member ATS team conducted intense searches, seizing the entire village. The raid revealed that the village had been secretly termed Al Sham, a symbolic Islamic State region where Sharia law was being promoted.
Mastermind linked to old terror cases:
The key accused, Sakib Dance, an ex-member of the banned outfit SIMI, was arrested. Previously convicted in the 2002-03 Mumbai bomb blasts, Sakib allegedly resumed extremist activities post-release in 2017.
During the search, ATS recovered radical propaganda materials, blades, swords, and communication devices used to spread extremist ideology.
Alarming objectives unearthed:
Investigators found that Sakib aimed to pilot Ghazwa-e-Hind from this very village, dreaming of extending Islamic rule across India. The village’s renaming as Al Sham mirrored ISIS leader Baghdadi’s ideology.
ATS sources revealed Sakib had replaced the Indian tricolour with the ISIS flag in this village, preparing it as a model for spreading extremist governance.
Demographic factor:
With 83 percent Muslim population according to the 2011 census, Padha village was strategically chosen for this experiment. The ATS warns of a wider international radical network backing Sakib’s moves.
Investigations are ongoing, with multiple suspects under custody. Security agencies are probing possible international links and further terror recruitment efforts in the region.
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