Telangana Police Arrest Bankura Man in Extremist Link Case
HYDERABAD: Telangana Police, with support from Bankura Police and the West Bengal Special Task Force (STF), arrested a man from West Bengal’s Bankura district for alleged links with al-Qaida’s South Asia module.
The accused, Mir Asif Ali from Khatra, is among 12 people arrested nationwide for attempting to build a recruitment and sleeper-cell network. Police later brought him to Hyderabad for further questioning, as reported by TOI.
Social media activity leads to suspect
Investigators identified Ali while examining social media accounts and mobile phones of three suspects earlier arrested in Telangana. They found that he was in contact with Pakistan-based handlers and used social media to spread extremist propaganda.
Police said he shared anti-India posts and images of the Indian flag being burned. His accounts also showed photographs of him holding an AK-series rifle.
Officers traced him through a mobile number linked to the accounts. They arrested him during a search operation in Kharbol village in Khatra.
Online gaming used as entry point
During questioning, Ali told officials that he first connected with extremist elements through online gaming. He later joined a group that included the three Telangana suspects and Pakistan-based handlers.
Police said the handlers instructed him to set up an al-Qaida module in Bengal.
Investigators added that Ali had worked at a mobile phone shop in Noida. He allegedly created multiple social media accounts to pose as a militant. He then sent friend requests to young people to indoctrinate them.
Police said he targeted districts in West Bengal, including North and South 24 Parganas, Malda, Murshidabad, Birbhum and Bankura.
