Ballari (Karnataka), March 26 (NationPress) A 36-year-old resident of Ballari was taken into custody by Andhra Pradesh authorities for allegedly disseminating extremist propaganda via social media and having connections with suspected terrorist organizations, as stated by police on Thursday.

The individual, named Abdul Salam, lives on Abdul Kalam Street under the Kaul Bazaar police precinct. He was apprehended near Dhara Mill after law enforcement received specific intelligence regarding his activities.

Authorities indicated that a team from Andhra Pradesh monitored Salam’s activities before executing his arrest in the city. Following this, a panchanama was carried out at his home with the help of local Kaul Bazaar police officers. He was subsequently presented before a court and transported to Andhra Pradesh for further inquiry.

The investigation began on March 22 when the Vijayawada Second Town police received alerts about individuals using social media to promote extremist ideologies and maintain connections with banned terrorist groups. An FIR was filed on March 23, leading to a series of search operations.

During these operations, the primary suspect, 23-year-old Mohammed Rehmatullah Sharif, was arrested in the Winchpet region of Vijayawada. He reportedly admitted to being swayed by extremist ideologies found online and expressed aspirations in alignment with the establishment of a caliphate in India.

Investigators uncovered that Sharif had made contacts with various individuals nationwide, including Abdul Salam from Ballari. Initial findings suggest that Salam was involved in an online network that disseminated radical content and endorsed extremist perspectives.

The FIR also indicated that a suspected foreign handler, identified as Al-Hakim Shukoor, had purportedly instructed Sharif to get in touch with Salam. Authorities suspect that this network might have ties to international operatives engaged in radicalization efforts.

Officials stated that individuals like Shukoor are believed to hold a significant influence in recruiting and radicalizing youth through digital platforms.

A senior police official emphasized the broader ramifications of this case, stating, “This incident highlights the increasing role of social media in the radicalization of young people. There is a pressing need for vigilant monitoring of online platforms and the creation of awareness to counteract such influences.”

It’s noteworthy that the National Investigation Agency previously detained a suspect in Ballari while investigating the 2024 Rameswaram Cafe blast case in Bengaluru, underscoring the rising concerns regarding extremist networks operating within the region.