Lucknow: Days after arresting a terror suspect from Uttar Pradesh’s Azamgarh, the UP Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a second accused in a case involving a suspected module allegedly inspired by the ideology of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).
The second accused, 19-year-old Maksood Ali, was arrested from Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore on September 14 following the interrogation of Mohammad Nabeel, who was arrested from Azamgarh on September 12.
According to the UP ATS, Maksood is originally from Siddharthnagar district in Uttar Pradesh and was living in Coimbatore. The arrest was carried out with the help of the Tamil Nadu ATS.
Maksood was later brought to Lucknow on transit remand and produced before the concerned court, where further legal proceedings are underway.
The UP ATS said it had received intelligence about individuals allegedly using social media platforms to create groups and plan what the agency described as anti-national activities.
According to the agency, the suspected network was influenced by the ideology of Anwar al-Awlaki, an Al-Qaeda-linked preacher.
The ATS alleged that members of the network were attempting to recruit young people through WhatsApp groups and planned to involve them in jihadist activities, including training them to become “mujahids”. The intelligence input also mentioned alleged plans to collect funds and provide training in the use of advanced weapons.
The agency said the suspected network had links beyond Uttar Pradesh, with individuals from other parts of India and foreign countries allegedly connected to it.
UP ADG Law and Order Amitabh Yash said the investigation and questioning of Nabeel after his arrest led the ATS to Maksood.
The agency alleged that Maksood was in contact with Nabeel and other members of the suspected network. ADG Yash further alleged that Maksood, Nabeel and others were involved in a conspiracy to carry out violent jihadist activities in India.
Investigators also alleged that Maksood had been in contact with hackers in Pakistan and was attempting to develop hacking tools. During questioning, he reportedly told investigators that he had learned Python, Java, coding and hacking-related skills through online resources.
The UP ATS said Maksood was operating two WhatsApp accounts and was part of several groups. According to the agency, some of these groups were linked to Pakistani phone numbers, including numbers allegedly used by Pakistani hackers.
The ATS also found that Maksood was part of a WhatsApp group named “Laga Dalib Illallah”, which was created by Nabeel. According to the UP ATS, content linked to the banned terrorist organisation AQIS and videos related to bomb-making were shared in the group.
The investigation is underway, with the ATS examining the suspected network’s members, online activities and alleged links with people outside India.