Two young men from Karnataka have been arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly maintaining contact with a Pakistan-based handler identified as Rana Umar, who is listed as a most-wanted criminal by India's national investigative agencies. The arrests, made on Friday, 6 June 2025, by Tumakuru city police, followed a tip-off received on 4 June and confirmed intelligence inputs from central intelligence agencies. Investigators say the case has exposed a wider online radicalisation network with suspected followers across multiple parts of the country.

Who Was Arrested and How

Allabakash (23), a resident of Sriramnagar, Tumakuru, and Zameer Khan (23), a mason from Davanagere, were taken into custody after police examined Allabakash's mobile phone during an interrogation at Kyathasandra police station. The device allegedly revealed prolonged communication in Hindi via Instagram with an individual identified as 'Rana Bhai'. Zameer Khan had reportedly been absconding before his arrest. A formal case was subsequently registered at Tumakuru Town Police Station.

How the Alleged Radicalisation Unfolded

According to investigators, both accused came into contact with Rana separately through Instagram approximately a month before their arrest. The communication allegedly progressed across multiple platforms — Instagram, X, and WhatsApp groups — over a span of nearly 20 days. Police say Rana initially shared messages about Islam and religious teachings, before gradually steering conversations toward narratives of community unity and retaliation. Officials allege the discussions eventually shifted to preparations for provocative and disruptive activities intended to disturb public peace.

The Handler: Rana Umar

Sources identified the Pakistan-based handler as Rana Umar, described as a most-wanted terrorist currently listed by India's national investigative agencies. According to investigators, Rana referenced the killing of a cleric in Pune and allegedly spoke about taking revenge, insisting the community 'must remain united and not spare anyone.' Police allege he was using the arrested youths to build an organised network in the region and had already introduced them to a broader circle of contacts. Authorities suspect Rana has followers in several parts of India and was attempting to form a structure for carrying out subversive activities.

What the Probe Has Revealed

Investigators say the accused were ordinary young men working in small jobs who were allegedly drawn in through what appeared to be routine religious conversations online. Police describe the process as systematic brainwashing carried out as part of a larger conspiracy. The probe has raised serious concerns about the speed at which alleged radicalisation occurred — within roughly 20 days of sustained online contact. Authorities are now working to map the full extent of the network and the nature of online coordination across WhatsApp groups and other platforms.

Investigation Ongoing

The arrests have prompted a wider probe into the network's reach, with police suspecting the existence of followers in different parts of the country. Authorities say the investigation is continuing to determine the scale of online coordination and whether other individuals were similarly approached. The case underscores growing concerns among Indian security agencies about the use of social media platforms for cross-border radicalisation attempts targeting vulnerable youth.