Delhi Police Arrest Youth with Suspected Terror Links from Bhubaneswar
Officials suspect that he may have been in contact with extremist elements, raising concerns about possible cross-border linkages and digital radicalisation networks
Bhubaneswar: In a significant development with national security implications, a team from the Delhi Police Special Branch on Saturday apprehended a youth from Bhubaneswar over suspected links with Pakistan-based elements and alleged involvement in anti-India activities.
The accused, identified as Imam, a resident of Delhi, was picked up from the Unit-6 area of the Odisha capital following a coordinated operation involving central and local agencies. Sources said he had been under the radar of Delhi Police for several months before his location was traced to Bhubaneswar.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the youth had relocated to Odisha around six months ago after coming under scrutiny for his online activities. He is alleged to have been actively disseminating anti-India propaganda through social media platforms, including Instagram, where he operated an account under the name ‘Lashkar-E-Mehendi.’
Officials suspect that he may have been in contact with extremist elements, raising concerns about possible cross-border linkages and digital radicalisation networks.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the Delhi Police team conducted the operation in Unit-6—one of the most sensitive administrative zones in Bhubaneswar—and detained the accused. He was subsequently produced before a local court and taken to Delhi on transit remand for further interrogation.
Security agencies are now probing the extent of his activities and whether he was part of a larger network. Investigators are also examining potential local linkages.
Amaresh Panda, a former senior police official who has previously interrogated suspects with alleged Pakistan-based terror links, emphasised the need for a thorough probe.
“Such accused must be intensively interrogated to ascertain whether they had any local support system. There is sometimes a misconception among anti-social elements that Odisha can serve as a safe haven. However, law enforcement agencies here remain vigilant and act decisively on credible inputs,” Panda said.
He added that the arrest should reassure residents, particularly given that the accused was hiding in Unit-6, a high-security zone housing key state establishments such as the Secretariat, Lok Bhavan, and the Chief Minister’s residence.
