Teacher interrogated as ATS probes foreign chat network

Maharashtra’s Anti‑Terrorist Squad extended its crackdown into a second day, sweeping five locations for raids and questioning residents. The operation follows an earlier interrogation of a Ratnagiri district teacher from Rajapur, who was held for several hours before being released. Investigators uncovered an international WhatsApp circle that hosts participants from Pakistan, the Gulf region and other countries. The group reportedly contains individuals tied to religious organisations, and its chats frequently touch upon doctrinal issues. Agency officials suspect, but have not yet proved, a link between the chat group and the militant faction Hezbollah Mujahideen.