A 19-year-old youth named Mohammad Sajid has been taken into custody over online radicalisation and plotting a terror attack, in Jammu, on 23rd November. He is originally from the Reasi district and had been staying in the Bathindi area. An FIR (First Information Report) was filed at Bahu Fort Police Station under Section 113(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He attempted to abscond but was swiftly apprehended and a cell phone was found in his possession.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that Sajid has frequented numerous sensitive and densely populated areas in Jammu in recent days. His mobile phone location data has shown that he was active in various public venues, such as railway stations and bus terminals, during this time.
Authorities suspect that he could have also visited certain religious sites. His repeated appearances in crowded locations imply possible reconnaissance activities. Sources indicate that the investigation has uncovered that Sajid was persistently receiving edited and provocative jihadi videos on his mobile device from a terrorist handler located in Pakistan.
These videos are reported to be brainwashing him and instigate him to participate in terror activities. This indicates that Sajid was being systematically radicalised and encouraged to become a terrorist. Authorities are currently examining whether he was affiliated with any terrorist group and if he was recruiting other individuals.
Security agencies are also exploring the possibility of whether he was assigned to execute a specific attack or was merely preparing for the initial phase. Now, security measures have been further enhanced at critical sites throughout the city.
Contact with Pakistani handler, incriminating evidence found on phone
According to earlier preliminary inquiry, Sajid had communicated with phone numbers associated with Pakistan and other foreign nations. Police believe that the latter might have tried to influence or guide him. His phone was found to contain startling details, including conversations on messaging apps and WhatsApp, according to the officers. Police mentioned that he could have been prepping for a violent and illegal action as the initial evidence suggests that he was radicalised online.
Sajid’s digital devices have been confiscated by the police and submitted for a thorough forensic examination. Call logs, chat logs, surfing histories and any files that would indicate a larger network or conspiracy are under scrutiny. The evidence thus far outlines that he was in regular contact with overseas contacts. Authorities are also attempting to ascertain how he got in touch with these people and whether anyone else in the area might be a part of the same network.
According to police, an extensive probe is in progress and the perpetrator is being interrogated intensively to find out his motivations and the extent of his involvement. The foreign phone numbers he had contact with are also being verified by police personnel.
Sajid resided in a rented accommodation in the name of preparing for the NEET examination to become a doctor. He frequently visited a private library in Bathindi for his studies to avoid raising any suspicions. However, he eventually attracted the attention of security agencies and was nabbed at a checkpoint.