Hyderabad woman held for ISIS-linked online propaganda
HYDERABAD: A woman from the Old City was arrested for allegedly promoting extremist content after being drawn into an online network through Instagram reels, police said.
Social media activity turns into radical outreach
Syeda Begum, also known as Naida Begum or Ayesha Begum, 38, had built a following of nearly 30,000 on Instagram by posting reels on farming, tailoring and Urdu ghazals. Police said she later began sharing content linked to extremist groups.
Originally from Chanchalguda, she had married a man from Vijayawada about ten years ago and lived there. Following domestic disputes and alleged harassment by her husband, she separated from him a year ago and returned to her parents’ home with her six-year-old son.
She worked in three flats in a local apartment and spent considerable time on her mobile phone watching and posting reels. As her following grew, she began earning income through the platform.
Contact through Instagram leads to radical network
According to police, a man from Vijayawada, allegedly linked to extremist groups, contacted her through Instagram, posing as a police officer. He told her he had marital issues and proposed marriage.
Trusting him, she began regular communication over WhatsApp. Investigators said he later used her social media reach to spread extremist propaganda.
Under the direction of a foreign handler identified as Al-Hakim Shukru, she allegedly became part of a covert social media network. A WhatsApp group with 42 members from seven states was created to circulate extremist content.
Police track activity, arrest accused
Vijayawada police, who had been monitoring the network, detained Syeda Begum. Officials said she followed instructions from handlers and actively promoted their messages online.
Sources said she deleted some reels and messages recently after a marriage proposal arranged by her family required her to stay away from social media.
Following her arrest, members of her family were visited by Amjadullah Khan.
