The Special Branch of the Delhi Police apprehended a 22-year-old individual from Bhubaneswar on Saturday due to his suspected affiliations with a radical organization. The individual, named Sheikh Imran, was detained at his home located in the Unit-6 sector of Bhubaneswar and has been placed on transit remand for further investigation, according to police sources.
During questioning, authorities discovered that Imran, who is currently unemployed, had been actively involved with this radical group. He utilized social media platforms to connect with a private group on WhatsApp and Signal, where extremist content with religious undertones was shared, posing a threat to national security, as reported by the Bhubaneswar police.
The Delhi Police established a connection to Odisha after detaining a group of young individuals in Delhi the previous week for inquiries related to radicalization linked to their social media activity on various platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Signal, an officer indicated.
For several days, the Special Cell had been observing Imran’s online behavior and movements, and his arrest was made based on gathered evidence. Initial investigations uncovered several of his posts that were deemed objectionable and anti-national, leading to suspicions of his exposure to radical ideologies, sources revealed.
According to the officer, the arrest was made following reliable information, with coordination between the Delhi Police and the Bhubaneswar Commissionerate Police.
Further investigations will be conducted by the Delhi Police to explore Imran’s connections with other extremist factions, with support from the Bhubaneswar Police.
After his arrest, Imran was presented before a sub-divisional judicial magistrate in Bhubaneswar and subsequently placed on transit remand by the Delhi authorities.
Sujit Bisoyi serves as a Special Correspondent for the Indian Express, focusing on Odisha, with interests spanning politics, policy, and human interest stories. Follow him on Twitter @bisoyisujit87.
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