‘Wanted to establish Sharia-based Caliphate’: 19-year-old UP dental student arrested over ISIS link

The accused, identified as Haarish Ali, is a resident of Saharanpur district.

He was arrested on March 16 following credible intelligence inputs about individuals operating as active members of the ISIS module in Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country.

According to the ATS, the group was involved in spreading extremist jihadist ideology, creating social media groups to circulate propaganda and ideological content, and recruiting sympathisers.

Investigators alleged that the network aimed to establish a Sharia-based Caliphate in India and beyond.

Ali, a second-year dental student, was found during preliminary investigation to be in contact with extremist associates described as “mujahideen” and linked to the ISIS online module.

A case has been registered at the ATS Police Station in Lucknow under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Officials said the accused closely followed ISIS media outlets, including Al-Naba, and its propaganda magazine Dabiq.

He allegedly operated a separate online group named “Al Ittihad Media Foundation” to disseminate ISIS propaganda content and encouraged members to carry out suicide attacks in pursuit of jihad.

The accused has been produced before a competent court, and further legal proceedings are underway.