Social media used by alleged militants to expand ISIS influence, investigators say

Investigators disclosed that the alleged terrorists operating out of Vijayawada relied heavily on social‑media channels to receive orders, share extremist content, and recruit new members. The NIA’s raid exposed a sophisticated digital outreach programme that linked local operatives with a foreign handler identified as Al‑Hakim Shukoor.

The suspects admitted that they communicated with Shukoor exclusively through encrypted apps and never arranged a physical meeting. Through platforms such as Instagram and Telegram, they disseminated propaganda, offered training manuals for assembling improvised explosive devices, and encouraged followers to partake in suicide missions targeting public spaces.

According to the interrogation report, the group’s ideology was initially rooted in a vague jihadist outlook, which solidified after contact with Shukoor. The militants created a separate female wing, allegedly overseen by Saida Begum, to broaden recruitment and to train women in the handling of weapons and explosives.

Authorities highlighted that the digital footprint left by the suspects included messages urging the replacement of the Indian tricolor with the ISIS flag, and calls for a coordinated “Ghazwa‑e‑Hind” campaign. The raid demonstrated how extremist networks exploit modern communication tools to bypass traditional surveillance and expand their reach across state boundaries.