Lucknow, March 17 -- The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a 19-year-old youth from Saharanpur on Sunday for his alleged links with an online module of the banned terror organisation ISIS and for spreading extremist propaganda aimed at recruiting people through social media and encrypted platforms, confirmed senior police official here on Monday. He is a second-year student of Bachelor of Dental Science (BDS) from a private college and he was arrested in Moradabad. According to an official statement issued by the ATS, the agency had been receiving intelligence inputs that some individuals in Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country were actively working as members of ISIS online modules. These individuals were allegedly using social media platforms and encrypted communication channels to propagate ISIS ideology and recruit new members. The inputs suggested that the suspects were attempting to expand ISIS networks in India by promoting the group's extremist interpretation of jihad and advocating the establishment of a Sharia-based caliphate not only in India but across the world. They were also allegedly sharing propaganda material and ideological content to radicalise youths and encourage terrorist activities under the ISIS banner, the statement said. Taking the inputs seriously, ATS initiated a detailed physical and electronic surveillance operation. Following verification of the intelligence, a case was registered at the ATS police station in Lucknow. During the investigation, an ATS team arrested the accused, identified as Haris Ali (19), a resident of Saharanpur district. Officials said Haris Ali was allegedly operating several online groups using pseudonyms on platforms such as Instagram, encrypted messaging services and Discord. Investigations revealed that the accused had established and managed multiple ISIS-supporting groups where he shared propaganda literature,magazines, videos, audio clips and images related to ISIS activities and its slain militants. The content also glorified extremist ideologues associated with the organisation. ATS officials said the accused was actively attempting to recruit "like-minded" individuals into the organisation. The groups were also used to circulate ideological material supporting ISIS and encouraging followers to participate in violent jihad. According to investigators, Haris Ali was allegedly in contact with ISIS handlers and operatives not only in India but also in Pakistan and other foreign locations. He had also created a separate group named "Al Jihad Media Foundation" to further spread ISIS propaganda and amplify its media content, including publications linked to ISIS media wings. During questioning, the accused allegedly expressed support for replacing democratic governance with a Sharia-based caliphate and promoting jihad to achieve that objective. The arrested accused has been produced before a competent court for further legal proceedings. ATS officials said efforts are underway to identify and trace other individuals linked to the network....