The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested 33-year-old Mohammad Hasan Abu Sarmad Akhtar, who is originally from Bihar, residing in Mahim, over his alleged connection with the banned terrorist organization, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Akhtar works as a bike-taxi rider and also sells perfumes in Mahim.
Upon the examination of his phone, two audio recordings of JeM Chief, Masood Azhar, both 30-minutes long, out of which one pertained to the Babri Masjid issue, and other inflammatory social media posts were discovered. This led to investigators probing into his online activities and suspected links with the Pakistani intelligence. Suspicion was further raised by his activity on Telegram, as he is also a part of a group called ‘Indian Muslim’, on the platform. It is being suspected that Akhtar administered the group.
His alleged activity on a Telegram channel is also being investigated by the ATS, which is suspected to be engaged in circulating extremist propaganda from Pakistan.
Further, the comments made by him across different social media platforms are also being scrutinized. Comments such as those mentioning ‘Jihad’, and how Indian Muslims should ‘take up arms’, are being studied in order to fathom whether they were a part of a coordinated plan to fan religious hostilities or encourage violence.
