Maharashtra ATS arrests engineering student over alleged links to JeM and ISIS

The Maharashtra AntiTerrorism Squad ATS has arrested a 21yearold engineering student from Mumbai for allegedly maintaining links with the Pakistanbased militant group JaisheMohammed and the banned extremist organisation Islamic State of Iraq and Syria ISIS reported the IANSThe accused identified as Ayan Sheikh has been booked under Sections 38 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act UAPA along with Sections 152 196 and 197 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS officials said on Thursday according to the IANSAccording to the officials Sheikh allegedly shared extremist propaganda material online while two other individuals are also being examined as part of the probeActing on intelligence inputs about suspected online radicalisation linked to banned organisations ATS teams conducted searches at several locations in the cityLatenight operations were carried out in Kurla Govandi and Shivaji Nagar During the raids officials seized electronic devices including a laptop and a mobile phoneThe devices have been sent for forensic examination Investigators reported recovering what they described as a ldquodigital roadmaprdquo suggesting prolonged engagement with extremist content and alleged connections with banned organisations the news agency reportedUnder surveillanceOfficials said Sheikh had come under surveillance for allegedly circulating extremist propaganda through social media and encrypted messaging applicationsPreliminary analysis of the seized devices reportedly revealed multiple audio and video clips linked to Masood Azhar the chief of JaisheMohammedInvestigators also found that Sheikh was active on the messaging platform Telegram where extremist material was allegedly shared in closed groups Chat records are said to indicate attempts to promote radicalisation and recruitment as per the IANSAttempts to influence and recruit youthAccording to officials Sheikh allegedly tried to radicalise two other young men who were engineering students and his close associatesHe is said to have added them to Telegram groups where propaganda linked to JeM and ISIS was circulated However during searches conducted in Govandi and Kurla investigators found that the two individuals had accessed the content but were not actively involved in any terrorrelated activities reported the IANSTheir statements have been recorded as part of the ongoing investigationSuspicious contacts with foreign handlersDuring interrogation Sheikh allegedly disclosed details of conversations with suspected foreign handlers and individuals linked to banned organisationsOfficials said the communications took place through encrypted platforms and involved several foreign nationals and alleged facilitators believed to be connected to recruitment networks and sleeper cellsDigital evidence also indicated that multiple users from different Indian states were part of such encrypted groups exchanging extremist content and radicalisation materialWider investigation underwayAuthorities are now analysing digital footprints to map influence networks identify individuals vulnerable to radicalisation and trace potential operational links to local sleeper cellsKey digital evidence and communication records have been shared with agencies in other states to support coordinated investigations and prevent further recruitment efforts the news agency reportedInvestigators are also examining Sheikhrsquos financial transactions and digital trail to determine whether any funding channels were used to support extremist activitiesSheikh is scheduled to be produced before a special court in Mumbai on Friday where the ATS is expected to seek police custody for further interrogationOfficials have indicated that additional arrests in connection with the case cannot be ruled out as the investigation continueswith IANS inputs