Gujarat Teen Behind 50+ Cyberattacks During ‘Operation Sindoor’ Arrested

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested an 18-year-old and a minor for orchestrating over 50 coordinated cyberattacks on Indian government websites during the recent military ‘Operation Sindoor’. The main accused, Jasim Shahnawaz Ansari from Nadiad in Gujarat’s Kheda district, allegedly led multiple Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks targeting critical infrastructure websites while posting anti-national content […] The post Gujarat Teen Behind 50+ Cyberattacks During ‘Operation Sindoor’ Arrested appeared first on Cyber Security News.

May 22, 2025 - 20:30

Gujarat Teen Behind 50+ Cyberattacks During ‘Operation Sindoor’ Arrested

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested an 18-year-old and a minor for orchestrating over 50 coordinated cyberattacks on Indian government websites during the recent military ‘Operation Sindoor’.

The main accused, Jasim Shahnawaz Ansari from Nadiad in Gujarat’s Kheda district, allegedly led multiple Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks targeting critical infrastructure websites while posting anti-national content through encrypted Telegram channels.

NDTV reports that during the sensitive period of Operation Sindoor—India’s precision military strikes against terrorist facilities in Pakistan in early May 2025 the hackers launched a systematic campaign targeting government portals across defense, finance, and aviation sectors.

DDoS Campaign Targeted Critical Government Infrastructure

According to Deputy Inspector General of Gujarat ATS, Sunil Joshi, the attacks occurred precisely when Indian armed forces were conducting operations against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

On May 7 alone, over 20 websites, including those related to defense, finance, and aviation, were attacked.

The hackers not only disrupted critical digital infrastructure but also defaced several government websites with inflammatory messages like “India may have started it, but we will be the ones to finish it”.

The timing and coordination of these attacks raised immediate national security concerns, as they appeared deliberately synchronized with India’s military operations.

Despite having failed their Class 12 examinations, Ansari and his juvenile accomplice demonstrated remarkable technical prowess in executing complex cyberattacks.

They had learned hacking techniques from YouTube, using tools and languages like Python, Pydroid, and Termux. They used DDoS attack tools from GitHub, cloning and modifying them to bring down websites.

The investigation revealed their sophisticated operational security protocols, including maintaining backup communication channels.

They initially created a Telegram channel named ‘EXPLOITXSEC’ with a backup channel ‘ELITEXPLOIT’, which was later renamed ‘AnonSec’.

These channels served both as proof of their exploits and as instructional platforms for coordinating further attacks.

Dhruv Prajapati of the Gujarat ATS received specific intelligence about the Telegram operations, leading to targeted surveillance of the suspects.

Cyber Terrorism Charges Filed

The duo has been booked under Sections 43 and 66F of the Information Technology Act, with the latter carrying potential life imprisonment for cyber terrorism.

Section 66F specifically criminalizes unauthorized access to critical computer systems that harm national interests.

The forensic examination of their mobile devices revealed extensive evidence of their nine-month hacking campaign, with activities intensifying during Operation Sindoor.

Bank accounts of both accused are under scrutiny to determine whether they received any financial support for these activities.

This case highlights the emerging threat of juvenile involvement in cyber subversion and the growing risk of online radicalization in an increasingly digital conflict landscape.

The investigation continues to determine whether the attackers were influenced or directed by foreign hostile entities, given the sophisticated nature and timing of the attacks.

The case has renewed focus on the vulnerability of critical digital infrastructure during military operations and the evolving nature of hybrid warfare in South Asia.

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The post Gujarat Teen Behind 50+ Cyberattacks During ‘Operation Sindoor’ Arrested appeared first on Cyber Security News.