Chhattisgarh’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has apprehended two minor boys in Raipur, suspecting their involvement with an ISIS module operating out of Pakistan. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma confirmed the detentions, highlighting this as the state’s first such case. The youths are alleged to have been influenced by extremist content and were actively using social media platforms like Instagram with fake accounts to spread propaganda and radicalize others.
Sharma, who also oversees the home department, stated that the detained minors were reportedly directed by ISIS operatives based in Pakistan. They had gained access to significant online information and were extensively utilizing the internet under the ISIS banner. These individuals were not only consuming extremist material but also attempting to influence other young people.
The minors have been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. The state government is now intensifying efforts to identify any other individuals potentially involved. Sharma emphasized the need to expand the ATS presence, particularly in Raipur and other major Chhattisgarh cities, to proactively detect and address such threats. He also appealed to the public to report any social media accounts spreading anti-national content to the authorities.
Investigations revealed that the Pakistan-based ISIS module was employing multiple fake social media accounts to destabilize India and undermine national security through cyber means. Handlers from Pakistan allegedly used Instagram to target Indian teenagers, aiming to radicalize them, foster anti-India sentiments, and promote violent extremism and jihadist ideologies. The minors were reportedly added to private Instagram group chats where systematic radicalization took place, leading them to share ISIS propaganda and violent content online. Evidence also suggests attempts to establish an ISIS module within Chhattisgarh.