A 19-year-old dentistry student has been detained by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) over his suspected involvement with a digital module of the proscribed terror group, ISIS. The suspect, identified as Haarish Ali, was picked up in Moradabad on Sunday as part of a wider investigation into online extremist networks operating across the country.
Ali, a second-year BDS student, is a resident of the Saharanpur district. He, according to officials, had been using a variety of social media platforms, including Instagram, as well as other encrypted communication tools like Session and Discord, for communicating with ISIS handlers and sympathisers. The ATS has suggested that the digital footprints were part of a larger motive to radicalise and recruit individuals with the primary objective to establish a Sharia-based caliphate.
The investigation, which led to a case being filed at the ATS police station in Lucknow under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, revealed a sophisticated online operation. It is believed that Ali made the most of virtual private networks and different pseudonyms to control groups of people involved in the dissemination of extremist literature and propaganda. The group that Ali is believed to have controlled, as identified by different authorities, is the "Al Ittihad Media Foundation." The group is believed to have been used to stay in touch with ISIS operatives in India and abroad.
This arrest also reflects the increasing worry within the security apparatus about the usage of encrypted communication by young and educated individuals for extremist activities.
For the time being, Ali is in custody as the ATS is trying to scan his electronic devices to have a better idea of the situation and whether Ali has any other operatives in the country.
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