19-Year-Old Dental Student Arrested In UP For Alleged Links With ISIS Online Module

Last Updated:March 17, 2026, 11:53 IST

According to officials, the groups were allegedly used to circulate propaganda material, extremist literature and instructions related to ISIS activities.

Those detained have been referred for an expedited trial. (Representative Image)

A 19-year-old dental student has been arrested in Uttar Pradesh for alleged links with an online module of the banned terror outfit ISIS, officials said on Monday.

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested Haarish Ali, a resident of Saharanpur district, in Moradabad on Sunday during an ongoing probe into activities of ISIS-linked online networks operating in India, a statement from the ATS said.

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According to the offficials, the second-year BDS student was allegedly in contact with ISIS handlers and sympathisers through social media platforms like Instagram and encrypted applications such as Session and Discord.

The ATS, intelligence inputs indicated that some individuals in Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country were creating online groups to propagate ISIS ideology aimed at establishing a Sharia-based caliphate system and recruit people to strengthen the terror outfit in India.

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According to officials, the groups were allegedly used to circulate propaganda material, extremist literature and instructions related to ISIS activities.

Based on these inputs, a case was registered at the ATS police station in Lucknow under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the statement said.

The investigation revealed that the accused had allegedly created multiple groups using pseudonyms and virtual private networks (VPNs) to recruit like-minded individuals and spread ISIS propaganda.

Officials added that he also operated a separate group called “Al Ittihad Media Foundation” and maintained contact with individuals linked to ISIS networks in India and abroad.

(With inputs from PTI)

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