LUCKNOW: Two days after the arrest of a 19-year-old BDS student, the UP ATS sleuths on Wednesday said that the accused was actively radicalising minors through social media platforms. He had come under the influence of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) ideology nearly three years ago, the sleuths added.
The student, a resident of Saharanpur, was arrested from Moradabad on March 16 for allegedly operating an ISIS-linked online radicalisation and recruitment module.
According to ATS officials, the accused used platforms such as Instagram, along with encrypted applications like Session and Discord, to systematically target teenagers and minors.
He allegedly identified vulnerable individuals by tracking users engaging with religious or identity-based content and gradually initiated conversations to build trust.
Investigators said he used a step-by-step indoctrination strategy. Initially, he shared general religious content, which was later replaced with selectively edited videos, extremist literature, and speeches aimed at distorting religious interpretations. Over time, he introduced radical narratives, glorified violent jihad, and projected extremist groups as defenders of faith.
The accused, Harish Ali, allegedly created closed groups and private channels where minors were isolated from mainstream viewpoints and exposed to continuous propaganda. He is said to have encouraged secrecy, instructed recruits to avoid discussing these interactions with family members, and pushed them towards deeper ideological commitment.
ATS officials further shared that the student was exposed to ISIS propaganda around three years ago through online platforms, after which he came in contact with handlers linked to the terror outfit. He allegedly maintained communication with these handlers, including operatives based in Pakistan and other foreign locations, through encrypted messaging services.
To evade detection, the accused used VPN services and multiple anonymous accounts. He operated several digital groups to circulate ISIS material, including online magazines, execution videos, and speeches by extremist preachers.
When not covering crime, he reads fiction, roams around the dark ...
Read MoreWhen not covering crime, he reads fiction, roams around the dark alleys of the city in the dead of night. An MA (English Litt) from University of Lucknow, Pathikrit loves to speak French, well at least a smattering of it. He did his graduation in French language. A recipient of the Road Safety Fellowship of the United Nations, Pathikrit drives cautiously and advises others to do that too.
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