UP: Suspected terrorist linked to ISIS arrested from Aligarh

The state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) said a suspected terrorist linked to ISIS was arrested from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. According to a statement, Faizan Bakhtiar was wanted by the ATS and a reward of Rs 25,000 had been announced for information leading to his arrest.

The ATS of Uttar Pradesh Police said in its statement that he was part of the Aligarh module of terrorist organization ISIS and had taken admission in the Master of Social Work course of Aligarh Muslim University.

It said Bakhtiar’s name had surfaced after the arrest of two suspected self-radicalised terrorists linked to ISIS, Abdullah Arsalan and Maaz bin Tariq, from Aligarh in November last year. According to the statement, ATS had seized “prohibited” literature from him.

It said the counter-terrorism unit had received a tip-off that influenced by ISIS, some radicalized people were involved in anti-national activities and were forming a “jihadi group” on the instructions of their handlers in the terrorist organisation. The statement said that Bakhtiyar was connecting people to the Aligarh module of ISIS.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)