New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested five Muslim youths from different locations on charges of plotting to overthrow the government, impose Sharia law, and target Hindu leaders. The arrests, made on September 29, have triggered sharp questions from families and local communities, who claim the youths are innocent and victims of profiling.
The arrested include Akmal Raza from Sultanpur, Safil Salmani alias Ali Rizvi from Sonbhadra, Mohammad Tausif from Kanpur, Qasim Ali from Rampur, and Mohammad Raza from Fatehpur, who was detained in Kerala. ATS alleged that the group was influenced by radical outfits, active on social media, and planning to form an organisation called “Mujahideen Army” to purchase weapons. Authorities claimed they were inciting others with provocative posts and plotting targeted killings.
However, no weapons were recovered from them. Seized items included mobile phones, ID cards, and bank cards. Families of the accused strongly rejected the charges. Relatives of Akmal Raza, a barber’s son, said he had never shown extremist behaviour. Safil Salmani’s mother insisted her son, who worked odd jobs, was taken without explanation. Neighbours described the men as ordinary workers struggling to make ends meet.
Observers point out that the accused are all from poor backgrounds—barbers, mechanics, and labourers—raising concerns of selective targeting. Community members questioned how five men without resources could plot a coup against the government.
Police maintain the men posed a security threat and have sent them to jail pending trial. Families, meanwhile, hope the courts will clear their names. The case has reignited debate on communal bias, policing, and the risks of careless social media activity among youth.
