Overview
- The Uttar Pradesh Anti‑Terrorism Squad arrested 19‑year‑old Maqsood Ali in Coimbatore on Monday and brought him to Lucknow on transit remand for court proceedings.
- ATS says the arrest followed the September 12 interrogation of an earlier suspect and grew from intelligence on social‑media and WhatsApp groups used to spread jihadi material.
- Investigators allege Maqsood helped run multiple WhatsApp groups that circulated extremist literature and bomb‑making videos and built a secure messaging platform called 'CAPTAIN M NETWORK' to link members.
- The agency has registered a case under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and alleges contacts with Pakistan‑based handlers and hackers while the probe continues.
- Officials warn the case highlights how young people can learn coding and hacking from public platforms and be steered toward violence, signaling a focus on tracking bespoke apps and encrypted networks in future counterterror work.