The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested four individuals accused of conspiring to topple the elected government through violent jihad, murder Hindu religious leaders and attempting to form a radical organisation named the Mujahideen Army to implement Sharia rule in the country. According to ATS officials, the group was preparing for violent activities and trying to recruit people through social media platforms.

They also wanted to form an outfit named Mujahideen Army for radical activities. Those arrested are Akmal Raza, a resident of Sultanpur, Safeel Salmani alias Ali Razvi of Sonbhadra, Mohammad Tausif of Kanpur and Qasim Ali, a resident of Rampur. According to ATS, they received inputs that people from different districts of the state were allegedly planning to “overthrow the democratically elected government” in India through violent jihad and to impose Sharia law with arms after being influenced by extremist organisations in Pakistan.