Minors Apprehended in Intelligence-Led Operation
Raipur: In a significant development highlighting the threat of online radicalization, the Chhattisgarh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has booked two minors under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for their alleged links to the terrorist organization ISIS. The teenagers, residents of Korba and Raigarh districts, are accused of actively influencing other youth on social media with extremist ideology.
The arrests followed a meticulous intelligence-gathering operation that monitored the minors’ online activities. According to ATS officials, the duo was allegedly operating as key administrators in a digital network designed to indoctrinate and recruit impressionable young people into the ISIS fold.
How Were the Minors ‘Influencing’ Youth?
The investigation revealed that the two minors were managing multiple social media groups on encrypted platforms. Within these groups, they allegedly disseminated a large volume of extremist content. The ATS stated that the accused were actively sharing ISIS propaganda, including:
- Graphic and violent videos
- Radical literature and manifestos
- Motivational content designed to glorify the terrorist outfit
They are accused of not just consuming this material but strategically using it to influence their peers and build a localized module of sympathizers for the proscribed organization. The ATS action was triggered after their online behaviour showed a clear pattern of promoting extremist thought and attempting to connect with other radicalized individuals.
Controversy Over UAPA Invoked Against Juveniles
The decision to invoke the UAPA against minors is a significant and controversial step. The UAPA is India’s primary anti-terror law, known for its stringent provisions that make bail difficult and allow for extended detention. Applying such a law, typically reserved for hardened terrorists, to juveniles raises profound legal and ethical questions.
This action signals a zero-tolerance approach by law enforcement but also sparks a debate on the intersection of juvenile justice and national security. Critics argue that treating radicalized children as terrorists, rather than as victims needing de-radicalization and rehabilitation, could prove counterproductive in the long run.
The Digital Battlefield: A New Frontier for Radicalization
This case is a stark reminder of the new frontier in terrorism: the digital battlefield. Extremist groups like ISIS have perfected using the internet to bypass geographical borders and target disaffected youth directly. The widespread availability of smartphones and affordable data has created fertile ground for this digital propaganda to spread.
For security agencies, this presents an unprecedented challenge—monitoring vast online spaces while respecting privacy and intervening before online rhetoric translates into real-world violence. The potential involvement of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is also anticipated, as the central agency may take over the case to uncover the wider network, including the handlers who first radicalized the minors.
This case serves as a cautionary tale for parents and educators about the urgent need for digital literacy and vigilance to combat the silent, pervasive threat of online radicalization.
