The Jharkhand Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested four individuals from Dhanbad district on Saturday for their alleged links with banned extremist organizations, including Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT), Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), and ISIS. Acting on confidential intelligence inputs, ATS teams conducted simultaneous raids in key localities of Dhanbad, including Wasseypur, Bank More, and Bhuli.
The arrested suspects have been identified as Gulfam Hasan (21) from Alinagar, Bank More; Ayaan Javed (21) from Aman Society, Bhuli; Md. Shahzad Alam (20) from Bhuli Bypass; and Shabnam Praveen (20) from Shamsher Nagar, Bhuli. During the raids, ATS recovered two pistols, 12 live cartridges, several mobile phones, laptops, and a substantial cache of radical literature and documents linked to banned outfits.
A criminal case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, has been registered at the ATS headquarters in Ranchi, and a comprehensive investigation is now underway.
Link to Global Terror Networks and Radicalisation via Social Media
The ATS revealed that the arrested individuals were allegedly engaged in indoctrinating local youth by promoting extremist ideologies through encrypted messaging platforms and social media. Authorities stated that the suspects not only propagated radical religious content but also facilitated illegal arms trading and maintained links with international terror networks using the dark web.
This development is significant as it marks India’s first criminal case against HuT under UAPA after the organization was officially banned last year for its involvement in radicalizing youth toward violent jihad. HuT, originally formed in Jerusalem in 1953, has long been under international scrutiny for its extremist activities.
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According to officials, the suspects used sophisticated communication methods to stay off the radar while attempting to recruit and influence impressionable young minds in the region.
Nationwide Security Alert Following Recent Terror Attacks
The Dhanbad arrests come at a time when India remains on high security alert following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists. Senior police officials, including Deputy Superintendent of Police (Law and Order) Naushad Alam, supervised the Dhanbad operations personally, emphasizing the seriousness with which security agencies are treating potential threats.
The ATS emphasized that further raids and interrogations are likely as part of efforts to dismantle any broader network operating in Jharkhand and neighboring regions. Authorities are also coordinating with central agencies to examine international connections and funding trails linked to the arrested individuals.
With heightened vigilance across the country, security forces are determined to neutralize emerging terror threats, particularly those exploiting digital platforms for recruitment and radicalization.