Chhattisgarh’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has detained two minor boys in Raipur in connection with alleged links to an ISIS module operating from Pakistan. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma confirmed the detentions, calling it a pioneering case for the state and assuring that efforts are underway to identify any other individuals involved. The youths are accused of acting on instructions from Pakistan-based ISIS operatives and actively engaging on social media platforms like Instagram using fake accounts to spread extremist propaganda.
Sharma, who also heads the home department, indicated that the boys had been influenced by extremist content and were actively trying to influence others. They had apparently gained access to significant online resources and were extensively using the internet and social media under the banner of ISIS.
Charges have been filed against the minors under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The state government is planning to expand the capabilities of the ATS across Chhattisgarh, with a particular focus on Raipur and other significant urban areas, to improve the detection and apprehension of such individuals. Sharma urged the public to report any social media accounts disseminating anti-national content to the police immediately.
Official sources indicate that the ATS’s technical surveillance led to the identification and detention of the two minors. Investigators have uncovered evidence suggesting that an ISIS module in Pakistan was using multiple fake social media profiles to destabilize India and threaten its internal security via cyber warfare. The Pakistani handlers reportedly used Instagram to target Indian youth and teenagers, aiming to radicalize them, incite anti-India sentiment, and promote violent extremist and jihadist ideologies. The minors were allegedly brought into private Instagram group chats where they underwent a process of radicalization and were encouraged to distribute ISIS propaganda and violent materials online.