4 New Arrests Made Over ISIS Aligarh Link, 3 Connected To AMU: UP ATS

The Anti-Terrorism Squad of the UP Police arrested four men linked to ISIS' Aligarh module on Saturday.

UP ATS arrests four more people linked to ISIS' Aligarh module/Representational Image

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The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Uttar Pradesh police on Saturday said it has arrested four people allegedly linked to the Aligarh module of ISIS, according to a PTI report. Rakib Imam Ansari, a 29-year-old BTech and MTech graduate from Aligarh Muslim University was arrested by the ATS from Aligarh on Friday, it said in a release. 

Naved Siddiqui (23), who was pursuing BSc from Aligarh Muslim University; Mohd Noman (27), a BA (Honours) from the university; and 23-year-old Mohd Nazim, a graduate; from Sambhal were also nabbed by the Anti-Terrorism Squad on Saturday. 

The ATS said it also seized banned ISIS literature, mobile phones and pen drives from the arrested accused. 

According to the release, the accused were allegedly linked to the proscribed terror outfit, ISIS and were working to overthrow the current elected government through "violent terror jihad" and establish 'Sharia'.

Uttar Pradesh ATS arrested four men linked to the Aligarh Module of ISIS: UP Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) pic.twitter.com/shBaGXtaUO

— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2023

It also stated that the accused were circulating literature related to the banned terror outfit for the purpose among like-minded people and associating them with the terror group. 

The accused were preparing people mentally and physically for "terror jihad" through online platforms and planned to carry out a major action in the state and the country, it added. 

These latest arrests came after the ATS nabbed three men — Abdullah Arsalan, Maaz bin Tariq and Waziudin — who were also allegedly linked to ISIS on November 3. The trio provided information about the four arrested accused, the ATS said. 

Action is being taken against the four arrested accused after presenting them in court, the release stated. 

These four men came in contact with each other during meetings of the Students of Aligarh Muslim University — a students' union — and were trying to connect new people with ISIS under its garb, as per the release. 

Earlier this month,

Additional Director General of Police (ATS) Mohit Aggarwal said the unit had received a tip-off that some radicalised people, influenced by ISIS, were involved in anti-national activities and forming a jihadi group of like-minded people on the directives of their handlers.

They were planning to carry out a major attack in Uttar Pradesh, he had said.