LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Saturday arrested a 19-year-old man from Azamgarh for allegedly promoting the ideology of the banned terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and attempting to recruit young people through encrypted social media platforms, officials said.The accused has been identified as Mohammad Nabeel, son of Mohammad Danish, a resident of Chitara village in Mahmoodpur under Didarganj police station in Azamgarh district.According to the UP ATS, it had received intelligence inputs that Nabeel was allegedly involved in a conspiracy to carry out anti-national activities through various social media platforms.He was also suspected of being influenced by the ideology of Al-Qaeda operative Anwar al-Awlaki and of attempting to bring young people into online groups with the objective of radicalising and recruiting them.The intelligence inputs further indicated that some of the online groups allegedly included young people from Jammu and Kashmir as well as individuals based abroad.Following verification of the intelligence, the ATS said it found evidence indicating that Nabeel was allegedly propagating the ideology of AQIS and attempting to involve other youths in extremist activities.A case was subsequently registered at the UP ATS police station in Lucknow under Case Crime No. 14/2026, invoking Sections 152 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and Sections 18 and 38 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.The ATS arrested Nabeel in Azamgarh on September 12, 2026, in connection with the case.During an examination of the accused’s mobile phone, investigators allegedly found material indicating that he was promoting AQIS ideology on different social media platforms.According to the ATS, Nabeel had created a WhatsApp group using an Arabic phrase and referred to members of the group as mujahids. Investigators also found that members allegedly used coded references while discussing extremist activities and other subjects.The ATS said the accused had shared extremist literature and other propaganda material associated with Al-Qaeda-linked figures in the group and encouraged members to read it.Investigators also found Nabeel’s alleged association with several other WhatsApp groups, including one identified by police as “Flames of War”, where members from countries including Bangladesh, Myanmar and Saudi Arabia were reportedly present. The ATS said extremist ideology was allegedly being circulated through these groups.According to the agency, investigators also found conversations allegedly indicating plans to travel to countries including Pakistan, Turkey and Bangladesh for training.The ATS said material relating to the preparation of explosives and discussions concerning the procurement of substances used in explosive-making were also found during the examination of the accused’s digital devices.Investigators are now examining the accused’s communications, online associations and digital material to establish the extent of his alleged activities and identify other persons who may have been connected with the network.The ATS is also probing whether the accused had established contact with individuals or groups based outside India and whether any concrete plans were made in furtherance of the alleged extremist activities.The arrested accused was being produced before the competent court for further legal proceedings, the ATS said.Police officials said the investigation would continue to establish the role of other individuals linked to the online groups and determine the nature and extent of the accused’s alleged association with AQIS.
