India, Nov. 7 -- LUCKNOW A suspected operative of banned outfit Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), Bilal Khan, arrested from Saharanpur in September, was closely connected with Pakistan-based handlers of the organisation, maintaining communication with them through encrypted social media channels.

He was linked to nearly 4,000 Pakistani numbers and was a member of many extremist online groups dedicated to spreading anti-India propaganda, confirmed UP Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) officials in an official release on Friday.

"Khan's connections indicate a deeper online and ground-level network influenced by AQIS's ideology and Pakistan-based handlers," stated an ATS official. Bilal is in nine days' custody of the ATS since November ...