Uttar Pradesh ATS arrests Tamil Nadu youth for allegedly planning terrorist activities
Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorism Squad. Photo file | Photo credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a 19-year-old from Tamil Nadu for allegedly being involved in a conspiracy to carry out “violent jihadi activities” and being part of WhatsApp groups that contained bomb-making videos and material linked to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).
Maqsood Ali, who was allegedly in touch with Pakistani hackers and developed a secure communication network for his ilk, was arrested from Coimbatore on Monday with the help of the Tamil Nadu ATS, officials said on Wednesday.
This was the second arrest in the case in the past few days.
The Uttar Pradesh ATS received information that some people who were influenced by the ideology of Al-Qaeda operative Anwar al-Awlaki were allegedly creating groups on various social media platforms to plan anti-national activities, the statement said.
They allegedly tried to recruit young people through WhatsApp groups with a plan to turn them into “Mujahideen”, provide them with funds and train them in the use of sophisticated weapons.
After verifying the intelligence, the Uttar Pradesh ATS registered a case under Sections 152 (act threatening the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act, 2023 and Sections 18 and 38 of the Act199 (Unlawful Activities)77.
Mohammad Nabeel, a resident of Didarganj area of Azamgarh district, was arrested on September 12 in connection with the case. During his interrogation, the involvement of Maqsood Ali came to light after which he was arrested from Coimbatore, the ATS said.
According to the ATS, Maqsood, Nabeel and others were allegedly involved in a conspiracy to carry out “violent jihadi activities against India”.
Maqsood allegedly came in contact with Pakistani hackers and attempted to develop hacking tools.
Safe application
During interrogation, Maqsood allegedly told investigators that he had learned Python, Java, coding and hacking through online resources and had developed a secure application, “CAPTAIN M NETWORK,” the ATS said. The agency claimed that Nabeel, Maqsood and others were linked through the app.
According to ATS, Maqsood used two WhatsApp accounts and was associated with several groups.
Several Pakistani numbers, including those allegedly belonging to Pakistani hackers, have been linked to these groups.
The ATS went on to say that there were discussions on these groups about the development of secure messaging apps, which were also being used to “disseminate jihadist and extremist material”.
Maqsood was also linked to a WhatsApp group created by Nabeel where literature related to the banned terrorist organization AQIS and bomb-making videos were allegedly shared, the agency said.
Maqsood was taken to Lucknow on transit remand and produced before a competent court where further court proceedings were pending, the ATS said.
Published – 17 Sep 2026 01:20 IST