In a development that has sent shockwaves through the peaceful hill state of Sikkim, the state police have cracked their first-ever Islamic State (ISIS) propaganda and terror-funding module.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) operating in Gangtok arrested a 19-year-old youth identified as Md. Arju, booking him under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Information Technology Act, and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Digital Module
Sikkim’s security apparatus was alerted a month ago by intelligence inputs flagging the online circulation of violent extremist content designed to radicalize local youth. The subsequent SIT probe unmasked an organized network hiding behind mainstream social media platforms.
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The Nexus: Investigators zeroed in on a highly active Instagram account named “Group of Islamic Members,” which served as a primary hub for disseminating ISIS propaganda.
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The Seizures: Following the detention of six suspects, search operations on prime accused Md. Arju yielded an array of digital infrastructure, including an iPad, a laptop, multiple mobile phones, and storage devices.
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The Pak Footprint: Alarming encrypted WhatsApp logs recovered from Arju’s phone revealed active, direct communication with Pakistani mobile numbers. Central intelligence agencies are currently working to map these handlers.
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Financing Terror: The probe revealed that the digital cell wasn’t merely ideological. The network was actively discussing raising funds for Islamic terrorist groups and coordinating the circulation of counterfeit currency within the region.
A New Frontline in the Northeast
This arrest marks a critical shift in India’s internal security landscape. Sikkim has historically remained untouched by radical Islamist extremism. The exploitation of Arju’s network demonstrates that geographic isolation no longer provides a shield against decentralized, digital jihadist recruitment.
While five other individuals detained during the raids have been released on bail bonds, all have been named in the FIR as the SIT maps the full scale of the cell’s influence. The Sikkim Police have confirmed that the investigation is expanding to determine how deep the module’s roots travel into the border state.