The Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) made some shocking revelations about Mohammad Tariq, who was arrested on July 6, 2023, for promoting the ideology of ISIS on multiple social media platforms. The ATS disclosed that Tariq was in contact with Sumera Bano, a terrorist from the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), who was arrested by the Gujarat Police's Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) in Porbandar last month, along with three others.
According to reports, Sumera allegedly trained Mohammad Tariq in carrying out "love jihad," a practice where Muslim men allegedly lure Hindu girls into relationships and then coerce them into converting to Islam, engaging in terrorism, or subjecting them to violence such as murder and rape.
The information about Tariq was obtained from Sumera's phone when she was apprehended in Porbandar. Following this, the Gujarat ATS alerted the Uttar Pradesh ATS, leading to Tariq's arrest on July 6, 2023.
During questioning, Tariq admitted to propagating the ideology of ISIS and attracting young individuals on social media to join him. He expressed his desire to become a mujahid (a participant in jihad) and mentioned his fascination with the weapons used by Baghdadi, the former leader of ISIS.
Furthermore, when Tariq's mobile phone was investigated, the ATS discovered multiple images of ISIS terrorists carrying various weapons. The police also found incriminating materials, including ISIS flags, Arabic literature, and transcripts in his possession.
The ATS officials also revealed Tariq's modus operandi, stating that he typically lured and ensnared his targets through online games. By playing online games, Tariq connected with boys from his local area and across the country.
According to the ATS, Tariq was an introverted individual who mostly stayed indoors, occasionally going to the supermarket to buy essential items like milk and biscuits. He lived with his father, a government school teacher, his mother, his brother who worked as a tailor, and his elder sister.
Interestingly, when Tariq was detained, some residents of his neighborhood were incredulous that he had been radicalized and was spreading the ideology of ISIS through social media.
During the investigation, the ATS also revealed that Tariq was a member of a Telegram group where he received instructions from Sumera on how to approach vulnerable youths and entrap them. Although the group's administrator is currently on Haj, the ATS is tracking down all the youths in Tariq's locality who were in contact with him through various social media platforms and online games.
According to the ATS, Tariq hails from the Khoonipur neighborhood in Gorakhpur, an area that experienced anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) riots in 2019. The ATS claimed that a significant number of youths from Tariq's neighborhood had participated in the violent protests that occurred during the anti-CAA demonstrations in 2019.
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