Chhattisgarh ATS apprehends two minors for links with ‘Pakistan-based ISIS module’

The Chhattisgarh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has apprehended two juveniles, both from Raipur, claiming that Pakistani handlers associated with a Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) module radicalised them.

Police officers added that these handlers attempted to disseminate ISIS ideology and violent provocative content and set up an ISIS module in Chhattisgarh through the duo.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday (November 18, 2025) night, State Home Minister Vijay Sharma said that this was the first such case to surface and efforts were on to trace if there were more such instances in other parts of the State.

Earlier, the Chhattisgarh ATS issued a statement in which it claimed that during its investigation, it found that a Pakistan-based module of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) was operating social media accounts with fake and pseudonymous identities active in cyberspace with the aim of destabilising India and affecting internal security.

“These handlers were using Instagram IDs to mislead Indian youth and teenagers, incite them to anti-India activities, and spread extremist violence, radicalization, and Jihadi ideology,” it added.

The agency added that Pakistani handlers associated with the module systematically radicalised minor Indian teenagers by adding them to their Instagram group chats and attempted to disseminate ISIS ideology and violent provocative content through them.

“Evidence has also emerged indicating that teenagers were being motivated to establish an ISIS module in Chhattisgarh,” the note added. 

According to the police, the “two ISIS-influenced teenagers” were identified as a result of the vigilance and continuous cyber surveillance of the ATS and related investigative agencies. ”Once it was clear that their activities were anti-national, a case under provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 was registered and the two were apprehended,” police said.