Kalaburagi: Two detained over alleged Pakistan, ISIS links by UP ATS
Synopsis
The UP ATS has now carried out at least three inter-state terror-link operations in Karnataka within weeks, detaining migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh over alleged ISI and ISIS contact via social media. The Kalaburagi detentions of Mohammad Sameer and Salman deepen a pattern that investigators say points to a coordinated cross-border radicalisation network targeting factory workers.
Key Takeaways
The UP ATS and Kalaburagi police jointly detained Mohammad Sameer and Salman on 13 August from Kalaburagi district, Karnataka .
Both are reportedly from Uttar Pradesh and were employed at a beef export factory in the district.
Accused were allegedly in regular contact with Pakistan's ISI and ISIS via WhatsApp and Facebook .
A case has been registered at Kalaburagi University police station ; the duo are being questioned at an undisclosed location.
This is at least the third such UP ATS operation in Karnataka in weeks, following earlier detentions in Tumakuru and Davanagere .
In June 2026 , a 20-year-old migrant worker named Suhail was arrested in Davanagere in a joint operation involving the NIA .
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), in a joint operation with Kalaburagi police, detained two persons from Kalaburagi district, Karnataka, on Thursday, 13 August over their alleged links with Pakistan and the terror outfit ISIS, according to police. The two accused have been identified as Mohammad Sameer and Salman, both reportedly from Uttar Pradesh, who were working at a beef export factory in the district.
What Triggered the Detention
According to police, the two were allegedly in regular contact with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and ISIS through WhatsApp calls and Facebook. Their accounts were reportedly tracked during an inter-state social media monitoring exercise flagging alleged anti-national activities. Following that surveillance, the UP ATS and Kalaburagi police jointly moved in and took both individuals into custody.
Where the Investigation Stands
The accused have been taken to an undisclosed location for questioning by the ATS. A case has been registered at the Kalaburagi University police station. Police said further details would emerge after interrogation is completed.
A Pattern Across Karnataka
This development comes days after the UP ATS detained two other suspects from Karnataka's Tumakuru and Davanagere districts over alleged links with terror organisations reportedly operating from Pakistan. In June 2026, a 20-year-old migrant worker named Suhail — also from Uttar Pradesh — was arrested in Davanagere district in a joint operation by local police and intelligence officials, with inputs from the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Suhail, who worked as a factory painter, was accused of online radicalisation and communicating with Pakistan-based handlers.
That arrest followed interrogation leads from earlier June 2026 detentions in Tumakuru and Davanagere linked to cross-border social media messaging. Investigators reportedly found suspicious WhatsApp group links, Pakistan-based contacts, and digital data indicating online radicalisation. Notably, the Kalaburagi detentions mark at least the third such inter-state ATS operation in Karnataka within weeks, pointing to a coordinated surveillance sweep across migrant worker communities in the state.
Broader Security Context
The series of detentions underscores growing concern among security agencies over the alleged use of social media platforms — particularly WhatsApp and Facebook — for cross-border radicalisation of migrant workers settled in industrial districts of Karnataka. The operations reflect an expanding inter-agency framework, with the UP ATS, local police, and the NIA operating in tandem across state lines. Investigators have yet to publicly detail the specific nature of the alleged ISI or ISIS contacts, and charges are yet to be formally framed in the latest case.
Point of View
Intelligence-led sweep. What is striking is the profile: migrant factory workers, not hardened operatives, allegedly recruited via consumer social media apps. That raises harder questions about the reach of cross-border radicalisation networks into India's industrial labour force, and whether existing monitoring frameworks are catching these contacts early enough or only after significant communication has already occurred. The absence of formally filed charges in the latest case also means the evidence threshold — and due process — will face scrutiny as investigations proceed.
NationPress
14 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was detained in Kalaburagi and why?
Mohammad Sameer and Salman , both reportedly from Uttar Pradesh, were detained in Kalaburagi district on 13 August by the UP ATS and Kalaburagi police over alleged links with Pakistan's ISI and the terror outfit ISIS. Police say the two were tracked during a social media monitoring exercise that flagged alleged anti-national activities.
How were the suspects identified?
The suspects were identified through an inter-state social media monitoring exercise in which their WhatsApp and Facebook accounts were reportedly tracked for alleged contact with ISI and ISIS handlers. The UP ATS then coordinated with Kalaburagi police to carry out the joint detention.
Is this part of a larger pattern of detentions in Karnataka?
Yes. This is at least the third such UP ATS operation in Karnataka in recent weeks. Earlier detentions were made in Tumakuru and Davanagere, and in June 2026 a 20-year-old migrant worker named Suhail was arrested in Davanagere in a joint operation involving local police and the NIA.
What happens next in the investigation?
The two accused have been taken to an undisclosed location for questioning by the ATS. A case has been registered at Kalaburagi University police station. Police have said further details will emerge after interrogation is completed; formal charges are yet to be filed.
What role did the NIA play in related cases?
The National Investigation Agency provided inputs in the June 2026 arrest of Suhail in Davanagere. The NIA's involvement in that case indicates federal-level counter-terror interest in the broader network allegedly operating across Karnataka's industrial districts.
