Two minor boys have been taken into custody by the Chhattisgarh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Raipur due to suspected links with a Pakistan-based ISIS module. State Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma confirmed this significant development, emphasizing it as the initial case of its nature in Chhattisgarh and indicating ongoing efforts to identify anyone else connected. The detained youths are believed to have been operating under the guidance of ISIS elements in Pakistan, leveraging social media, including Instagram, with fake accounts to disseminate extremist ideologies. Sharma explained that the minors were influenced by radical content and were actively trying to recruit or influence others online. They had significant access to the internet and were using it extensively under the ISIS banner. They have been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Sharma committed to reinforcing the ATS, especially in key urban areas, to proactively identify and address such threats. He encouraged public cooperation by reporting any social media activity deemed anti-national. Evidence gathered suggests that handlers from Pakistan were specifically targeting Indian teenagers via Instagram to foster radicalization, anti-India sentiment, and support for violent extremism and jihad. The minors were reportedly initiated into private Instagram groups where they were subjected to systematic radicalization and encouraged to share ISIS propaganda. Investigations are also focusing on whether the intention was to establish an ISIS module within Chhattisgarh. The ATS’s successful operation was a direct result of continuous cyber monitoring and technical investigations.
