UP ATS arrests 19-year-old medical student over alleged links with ISIS online module
PTC News Desk: The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a 19-year-old dentistry student for allegedly being linked to an online module of the banned terror group ISIS, officials said on Monday.
The accused, Haarish Ali, a resident of Saharanpur district, was arrested in Moradabad on Sunday as part of an ongoing investigation into ISIS-linked online networks operating in India, according to an ATS statement.
A second-year BDS student, he is suspected of being in contact with ISIS handlers and sympathisers through social media platforms like Instagram and encrypted apps such as Session and Discord.
The ATS said intelligence inputs suggested that individuals in Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country were forming online groups to spread ISIS ideology, with the aim of establishing a Sharia-based caliphate and recruiting members to strengthen the outfit’s presence in India. These groups were reportedly used to share propaganda material, extremist content and operational guidance related to ISIS activities.
Following these inputs, a case was registered at the ATS police station in Lucknow under relevant provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
During the probe, officials found that the accused had allegedly created multiple groups using fake identities and virtual private networks (VPNs) to attract like-minded individuals and circulate ISIS propaganda.
Authorities also said he operated a separate group called “Al Ittihad Media Foundation” and was in touch with individuals linked to ISIS networks both within India and abroad.
- With inputs from agencies
