Karnataka Police's investigation into an alleged terror-linked social media network has revealed that a Pakistan-based handler identified as Rana had instructed two arrested youths in Tumakuru to build a group of 50 to 60 members and promised unlimited financial support for their activities, officials said on Monday, 8 June. The two accused — Allabakash (23) from Tumakuru and Zameer Khan (23) from Davanagere — were arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) following a joint operation triggered by central intelligence inputs.

How the Radicalisation Allegedly Unfolded

According to investigators, Rana allegedly made contact with the accused separately through Instagram approximately a month before their arrest. The communication later shifted to X (formerly Twitter) and eventually a WhatsApp group, with the two accused reportedly in continuous contact with the handler for nearly 20 days.

Investigators said the conversations began with religious content — messages about Islam and the teachings of the Prophet — before gradually escalating into provocative narratives around community grievances, unity, and retaliation. Police allege that Rana referenced the killing of a cleric in Pune to emotionally influence the accused, spoke about taking revenge, and insisted that the community 'must remain united and not spare anyone.'

Instructions to Expand the Network

The probe has established that Rana allegedly directed the accused to recruit 50 to 60 individuals and train them according to his instructions, with assurances of unlimited financial backing. Police are treating this instruction as a key development, suggesting the handler's broader objective was to build an organised, operationally capable network within India by targeting socially connected young men susceptible to online influence.

Investigators further allege that Rana introduced the accused to other contacts within his wider network and encouraged group-based coordination — indicating the operation may not have been limited to Karnataka.

Role of Central Intelligence and the Arrests

Officials confirmed that central intelligence inputs were critical in alerting Karnataka Police, following which a joint operation was launched. One of the accused had reportedly been absconding before being apprehended. Both men were described by police as ordinary young men engaged in small jobs at the time of their contact with the handler.

Digital evidence recovered from the accused's mobile phones and social media accounts is now being examined to map the full extent of the communication chain and identify any additional individuals who may have been targeted or recruited.

Scope of the Ongoing Investigation

The probe has widened significantly, with authorities working to determine whether the alleged plan to form a 50-60 member group was part of a larger, coordinated effort and whether similar recruitment attempts were made in other parts of the country. Police sources indicated that Rana is suspected of having followers in multiple states, and the investigation is examining whether the Karnataka network was one node in a broader structure.

The case represents one of the more detailed UAPA investigations in Karnataka in recent months, and its outcome is expected to inform how central and state agencies assess cross-border social media radicalisation going forward.