Daijiworld Media Network - Vijayawada
Vijayawada, Mar 25: The Andhra Pradesh Police have intensified their investigation into an alleged terror network, arresting two more suspects—including a woman—on Wednesday, a day after three ?????? were taken into custody in the case.
The newly arrested individuals, Sayeeda Begum (38) from Hyderabad and Abdul Salam from Ballari, Karnataka, were brought to Vijayawada and produced before a local court. They have been remanded to judicial custody and shifted to Rajahmundry Central Jail.
Sayeeda Begum, identified as the fifth accused, was apprehended from the Chanchalguda area of Hyderabad. Investigators allege that she was influenced by the ideology of banned extremist organisations and circulated content related to “jihad activities” among group members. Abdul Salam, listed as the eleventh accused, was arrested from Ballari as part of the widening probe.
Earlier, the police had arrested three youths from Vijayawada—Mohammad Rahamatullah Sharif (23), Md. Danish (27), and Mirza Sohail Baig (23)—who were reportedly working as app-based drivers. They are suspected of having links with extremist groups such as ISIS and AQIS and of forming a group named “Al Malik Islamic Youth” to radicalise others.
According to investigators, the accused used platforms like Instagram and Telegram to influence and recruit young individuals for unlawful activities. Intelligence agencies had been monitoring their online activities, and authorities are now examining financial transactions linked to the network.
A case has been registered under multiple provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and the Information Technology Act at the Vijayawada Two Town Police Station. The FIR names 12 accused from several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Delhi, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and West Bengal.
Meanwhile, Sayeeda Begum’s family has raised concerns over the circumstances of her arrest, claiming they were not informed about specific charges or evidence. Amjed Ullah Khan, spokesperson of the Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT), visited the family and said her mother, Sabera Begum, who is battling cancer, described her daughter as the sole breadwinner. A widow, Sayeeda Begum supports her four-year-old son and works as a housemaid while also earning additional income through social media content creation.
The family has alleged a lack of transparency during the arrest process. Khan assured them of legal support, stressing that while the law must take its course, due process and individual rights must be upheld.