Ghaziabad Police Arrest Six Under UAPA for Alleged Terror Content Circulation
In a significant crackdown, Ghaziabad police have arrested six men from Nahal village in Masuri under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The arrests, made on Thursday, follow allegations that the accused were actively watching, sharing, and circulating content linked to banned terror outfits, potentially attempting to draw the attention of these groups online.
Details of the Arrests and Accused
The accused have been identified as Savez (20), Junaid (23), Fardeen (23), Ikram Ali (36), Fazru (48), and Md Javed (45). According to DCP (rural) Surendra Nath Tiwari, the arrests were initiated after a tip-off from the police's dedicated social media monitoring team. The men are now facing serious charges under multiple legal provisions.
Police Investigation Findings
During the investigation, police discovered that the accused were following social media accounts associated with banned terror organizations, including Jaish-e-Mohammed and Farhatullah Ghori. They repeatedly watched videos posted by these outfits, some of which depicted atrocities against community members. This content was allegedly forwarded extensively on platforms like WhatsApp and other messaging services.
Notably, the Signal app was found installed on Savez's mobile phone, indicating the use of encrypted communication channels. Tiwari stated that the phones contained a trove of incriminating material, including chats, screenshots, and videos linked to these banned organizations. "They were following pages associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed and other such outfits. Some of the videos had been viewed hundreds of times," he emphasized.
Alleged Coordinated Activities and Motives
Police allege that the men were working in a coordinated manner, sharing material that disturbed communal harmony and engaged in unlawful activities. According to investigators, they commented on posts from terror-linked accounts in an attempt to attract the attention of these outfits, possibly with the aim of securing entry into them. "They appeared to be working in a coordinated way, sharing material, disturbing communal harmony and engaging in unlawful activity," the DCP added.
During questioning, Savez, a Class 12 pass who worked at a grocery shop, reportedly confessed to watching such videos for approximately a year and a half. He admitted to drawing others into this circle, highlighting a pattern of radicalization. The group includes diverse backgrounds: among the accused are an advocate, an LLB student, a madrasa teacher, and two laborers.
Background and Legal Charges
Police revealed that Javed, who ran a madrasa, had a relative who had moved to Pakistan decades ago and joined an outfit there, though no direct link to the current case was established. An FIR has been filed against all six men under several sections:
- Section 152: Act endangering sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.
- Section 196: Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, regional groups, castes, and communities.
- Section 61(2): Criminal conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
- Sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
This case underscores the growing concern over online radicalization and the use of social media by terror outfits to recruit and spread propaganda. Ghaziabad police continue to scan the mobile phones, chats, and social media trails of the accused to gather further evidence and understand the full extent of their activities.
