Indian Police Reportedly Arrest Man Accused of Reconnaissance at Mumbai Chabad House

Indian police reportedly arrested a 20-year-old resident of Airoli in Navi Mumbai on suspicion of carrying out reconnaissance at sensitive locations in Mumbai, including Chabad House in Colaba. The man, identified as Yash Singh, is alleged to have gathered information for foreign handlers. Investigators suspect the assignments involved collecting photographs and information concerning Jewish people and establishments, as well as foreign nationals living or doing business in Mumbai. The material allegedly collected included photographs, vehicle details and precise location information, which investigators believe was passed to the handlers. Navi Mumbai's Anti-Terrorism Squad initially apprehended Singh after receiving intelligence about suspected social-media links to international criminal networks. Investigators subsequently identified alleged connections to a case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in Thrissur, Kerala. After receiving information from the squad, Kerala police personnel travelled to Navi Mumbai, investigated those links and took him into custody. Chabad House, also known as Nariman House, is a Jewish religious and cultural center and was among the sites attacked in Mumbai in November 2008. The anti-terror squad has raised concerns about overseas criminal networks recruiting unemployed and financially vulnerable young people through Telegram, Instagram and WhatsApp, offering money in exchange for reconnaissance and information gathering.