A 22-year-old unemployed youth from Bhubaneswar, Odisha, was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell for suspected involvement in online radicalisation activities through social media platforms. The arrested individual, identified as Sheikh Imran alias S.K. Imran, was taken into custody on April 10 from the Unit-6 area with the assistance of Commissionerate Police.
The arrest followed a broader operation by the Delhi Police Special Cell, which had previously detained a group of young individuals in Delhi over social media posts related to radicalisation on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Signal. Subsequent investigations of the detained suspects revealed a connection to Odisha, leading to the apprehension of Sheikh Imran.
Authorities disclosed that Sheikh Imran, described as an unemployed youth, was an active member of a radical group, as per statements made during questioning. It was highlighted that Sheikh Imran’s social media interactions involved sharing radical content on religious lines within a closely-knit group on WhatsApp and Signal, raising concerns about national security implications.
Following collaborative efforts between the Delhi Police and local authorities, Sheikh Imran was produced before the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate Court in Bhubaneswar and taken on transit remand by the Delhi Police for further investigation. The ongoing probe aims to unravel the alleged network’s scope and digital presence while the accused remains in custody.
