Vijayawada, March 25 – Andhra Pradesh police have arrested two more accused, including a woman, in the alleged terror network case.
Intensifying their investigation into the case, in which three young men from Vijayawada were arrested on Tuesday, the police on Wednesday apprehended Sayeeda Begum from Hyderabad and Abdul Salam in Ballari, Karnataka.
Both accused were brought to Vijayawada and produced before a local court, which remanded them in judicial custody. They were subsequently transferred to Rajahmundry Central Jail.
Sayeeda Begum (38), the fifth accused in the case, was arrested from the Chanchalguda area in Hyderabad.
She is alleged to have been following the teachings of the leaders of banned terrorist organizations and forwarding content related to "Jihad activities" to other members of the group.
Abdul Salam, the eleventh accused, was arrested from Ballari.
Intelligence agencies were reportedly monitoring the activities of the accused, who had formed a group through social media platforms.
The police were conducting a thorough investigation into the financial transactions of the accused.
The counter-intelligence cell of the Andhra Pradesh police had on Wednesday busted the network with the arrest of three accused. They are alleged to have established contacts with suspected ISIS activists in various states.
Mohammad Rahamatullah Sharif (23), Md. Danish (27), and Mirza Sohail Baig (23) are all residents of Vijayawada and were working as app-based drivers.
The young men were produced before the court, which sent them to judicial custody until April 6.
The trio are suspected of having links with ISIS and AQIS and are allegedly involved in forming "Al Malik Islamic Youth" to radicalize youth.
The accused are alleged to be attempting to influence and radicalize youth through Instagram, Telegram, and other social media platforms to engage in terrorist activities.
A case has been registered against the accused under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), BNS, and the Information Technology Act at the Vijayawada Two Town Police Station.
The FIR names 12 accused, hailing from various states including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Delhi, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and West Bengal.
Meanwhile, the family of Sayeeda Begum said they have not been informed of any concrete evidence or her exact role in the case.
Amjed Ullah Khan, spokesperson of Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT), visited the residence of Sayeeda Begum and met her parents, Shaik Moula and Sabera Begum.
He said that Sabera Begum, who is battling cancer and is physically unable to move without assistance, told him that her daughter is a widow and the sole breadwinner of the family.
She takes care of her four-year-old son, Shayan Khan, and works as a housemaid to sustain the household. In addition, Sayeeda Begum runs an Instagram account and creates promotional videos to earn supplementary income.
The family has alleged that the police team that came to arrest Sayeeda Begum did not disclose any details regarding the case or the grounds for arrest, leaving them in complete shock and confusion.
Amjed Ullah Khan assured the family that all possible legal assistance would be provided and emphasized that while the law must take its course, due process, transparency, and the rights of individuals must be upheld.