UP student running ISIS module with Pakistani handlers arrested

The Uttar Pradesh police have arrested a man named Harish Ali from Saharanpur for allegedly promoting ISIS ideology and recruiting members for terrorist activities in India.

Harish, a BDS second-year student, was arrested from Moradabad while acting on inputs received by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) over the past few months regarding the suspect's activities.

The Uttar Pradesh police have arrested a man named Harish Ali from Saharanpur for allegedly promoting ISIS ideology and recruiting members for terrorist activities in India. Harish, a BDS second-year student, was arrested from Moradabad while acting on inputs received by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) over the past few months regarding the suspect's activities.

According to the police, Harish not only initiated but also controlled several online discussion forums on the photo-sharing site Instagram and encrypted communication apps like Session and Discord. He mostly used false names, and with the help of VPNs, he concealed his real identity.The channels were used by him to share ISIS propaganda magazines, videos and audios of killed terrorists being glorified etc. Besides that, he was also seen recruiting new members to the organisation through these channels. He started Al Ittihad Media Foundation, a completely different group to help improve the work of ISIS in India.

Harish was also in touch with ISIS in Pakistan and other countries and reportedly arranged plans with them. WANTED TO OVERTHROW DEMOCRACYAuthorities said Harish attempted to overthrow the democratic system of India and establish a caliphate based on Sharia law. He incited his followers to get involved in fidayeen-type missions and propagate the jihadist ideology.

He was always tuned to ISIS media outlets such as Dabiq magazine and Al-Naba new-channel and was forwarding extremist guides and news to his contacts.

PUNJAB POLICE BUST ISI-BACKED TERROR MODULE

In a separate incident, the Punjab Police on Saturday arrested Gursevak Singh alias Suraj and Amarjit Singh alias Rohit in connection with an ISI-backed terror and arms smuggling module.

During the operation, officials recovered an AK-47 rifle, three 9mm Glock pistols, two magazines, and 36 live cartridges from the suspects. The arrests were carried out near Muhawa village by teams from the Gharinda police station area, acting on specific intelligence inputs.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused were communicating with foreign-based handlers via social media, DGP Gaurav Yadav said. The module was also involved in radicalisation efforts and spreading narratives against India and the police.

"The weapon consignment was sent by foreign handlers through the Pakistan route," added SSP, Amritsar Rural, Suhail Qasim Mir, noting the arms were intended for terrorist activities in Punjab.