12 Arrested in Multi-State Islamist Extremist Bust

Andhra Pradesh police, in coordination with teams across multiple states, arrested 12 individuals suspected of ties to Islamist extremist networks, including banned groups like Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent and the Islamic State, officials said Wednesday. The operation targeted suspects promoting radical ideology through social media, with three key arrests occurring in Vijayawada on March 23.

The three Vijayawada residents, identified as Mohammad Rahmatullah Shareef, 23, a bike taxi driver; Mirza Sohail Beg, 23, a restaurant worker; and Mohammad Danish, 27, a laser marking professional, were detained near their homes in the Two Town area following intelligence surveillance of online extremist propaganda. Police said the trio formed a group called Al Malik Islamic Youth on platforms like Instagram and Telegram to radicalize youth, recruit members, and spread jihadist content. They allegedly coordinated with foreign handlers, including one identified as Al Hakeem Shukur based in Pakistan, and operatives in states such as Bihar, Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Telangana, and Rajasthan.

Investigators from the state's Counter Intelligence Cell reported that the...