NEW DELHI: A 25-year-old AC mechanic was arrested in Karnataka on charges of a terrorist act after police allegedly found he was in contact with Pakistan-based gangsters through social media, officials said on Friday.The accused, identified as Syed Abubakar, a resident of Islampur, was arrested by Doddaballapur Town police after a tip-off led them to examine his mobile phone and alleged online activities.Police said Abubakar was using an Instagram account named “sayedabudakar 313” and had allegedly liked reels featuring Pakistan-based gangsters posted by an account identified as “Hammadmemon 333”.According to the FIR, Abubakar had also uploaded videos of gangsters as Instagram status updates and shared his identity card with the “Hammadmemon 333” account. Several photographs of pistols were also allegedly found on his phone.The case came to light after a police constable attached to Doddaballapur Town police station received information on August 20 that Abubakar was allegedly involved in suspicious dealings with people from Pakistan.
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Acting on the tip-off, the constable went to Islampur Circle at around 11 am, where he found Abubakar and questioned him. Police said the accused failed to give satisfactory answers and attempted to leave the spot.The subsequent examination of his mobile phone allegedly revealed his Instagram activity and his interactions with the Pakistan-linked account.The FIR alleged that Abubakar could potentially attempt to instigate youths against India and engage in activities detrimental to the sovereignty of the country.Police have registered a case under Section 113(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to a terrorist act, and Section 197(2), concerning imputations or assertions prejudicial to national integration.Further investigation is underway to identify and trace the alleged radicalised individual with whom Abubakar was communicating through Instagram, police said.