ATS gets issued lookout circular against Dubai-based ISIS handler

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad has got issued a lookout circular against Aaqib, an alleged key handler currently based in Dubai and believed to be the mastermind behind a recently unearthed ISIS terror module.

According to officials, Aaqib is suspected to be the handler of a module led by Saqib alias “Devil”, which was busted by the ATS earlier this month. Saqib, along with Arbaab, Lokesh and Vikas were arrested by ATS from different parts of Uttar Pradesh for allegedly conspiring to carry out anti-national activities under the direction of foreign handlers. Investigations revealed that Aaqib, operating from Dubai, played a crucial role in connecting Saqib with Pakistani handlers.

Following this, Saqib allegedly began building a network at the local level, recruiting individuals and spreading extremist content. Sources said Saqib had created over a dozen groups on the messaging platform Telegram to expand the network. These groups were reportedly used to circulate provocative and anti-national videos and posts aimed at radicalising members. The probe has found that individuals from Uttar Pradesh as well as neighbouring states were being added to these groups.

The ATS suspects that the module was working towards executing multiple incidents in a short span of time. Investigators believe the strategy involved rapid recruitment and indoctrination, enabling the group to carry out coordinated acts across several cities, including Delhi and Mumbai, and in Haryana. Officials said the accused were being groomed in a structured manner, with instructions and ideological material being disseminated through digital platforms.

Hundreds of individuals are believed to have been linked to these groups, and the agency is currently verifying their identities and roles. The four arrested accused are presently in ATS custody, and interrogation is underway to uncover the full extent of the network and its links. The issuance of a lookout circular against Aaqib is seen as a significant step to track and prevent his movement internationally, as agencies intensify efforts to dismantle the module and its cross-border connections.