Pramesh S Jain
A 24-year-old tea seller from Raichur has been arrested on charges related to alleged terrorist conspiracy and promoting hatred between communities after police found that he had sought a pistol and exchanged provocative messages with a social media user suspected to be operating from an Arab country.
The accused,Mohammed Sahil,a resident of Gandhi Chowk in Raichur,allegedly came under the scanner of the police social media monitoring cell after he liked and shared provocative content posted by an Instagram account identified as “awais_rajpoot10.”
According to Raichur Superintendent of Police Arunangshu Giri,Sahil’s online activity was monitored for around 15 days before an alert was generated on August 8.
Police said that,according to the FIR,Sahil contacted an Instagram user known as“Rana Bhai”on July 14 and allegedly asked for a pistol.
“Bhai,mujhe ek pistol chahiye thi bhai,milegi?”.
The user subsequently shared a WhatsApp number and asked Sahil to provide his contact details.
During the investigation,police examined Sahil’s mobile phone and allegedly found multiple WhatsApp conversations,voice calls and audio messages containing provocative content targeting a particular community.Sahil had also reportedly sent a photograph of his tea stall to the person.
Alleged plan to create unrest :
Police suspect that the unidentified social media user encouraged Sahil to create unrest in India and allegedly offered to provide him with money and arrange a pistol.
Sahil reportedly told investigators that“Rana Bhai”was from an Arab country.
Police are now attempting to establish the identity and location of the person operating the social media accounts.
Investigators are also examining whether the conversations involved plans or discussions concerning activities that could threaten India’s sovereignty,unity, integrity or national security.
“Based on the material recovered from his phone,we registered a case and questioned him.He was subsequently produced before the court,which remanded him to judicial custody,”SP Giri said.
A case has been registered at Raichur Sadar Bazar Police Station under provisions relating to terrorist conspiracy and promoting hatred or disharmony between communities.
The investigation is continuing,with police focusing on identifying the person behind the“Rana Bhai”accounts and verifying the extent of Sahil’s alleged involvement.
