THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
A 30-year-old woman from Jharkhand has been arrested in Bengaluru by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) for her alleged involvement in an extremist module linked to Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). Identified as Shama Parveen, the woman is accused of disseminating radical content through social media platforms and maintaining suspected links with both AQIS and the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), officials said on Tuesday.
According to reports, Shama Parveen is a resident of Hasanabad in Jhumritilaiya, under Koderma district.
After the death of her father, Shamshul Haq, in 2019, Shama Parveen’s entire family lives in Bengaluru. Her brothers also live with her. One of Shama Parveen’s sisters is an agricultural scientist in Kolkata.
Shama Parveen is the youngest among three sisters and two brothers. According to the information, Shama Parveen has been a radical Islamic thinker since childhood. She always stays in purdah.
Fifth Arrest in AQIS Investigation
Parveen’s arrest marks the fifth in an ongoing investigation into a suspected AQIS network operating across multiple Indian states. Previously, on July 22, the Gujarat ATS detained four individuals: Mohd Fardeen from Ahmedabad, Mohd Faiq from Delhi, Zeeshan Ali from Noida, and Sefullah Kureshi from Gujarat’s Aravalli district. All were booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to authorities, Parveen was residing in the Manorayanapalya area of Hebbal, Bengaluru, and had been living in the city for the past five years. Originally from Jharkhand, she had moved to Bengaluru and lived a quiet, low-profile life with her younger brother. Gujarat ATS officers, with assistance from central intelligence agencies and Bengaluru Police, apprehended her on July 29 following a coordinated operation.
Social Media Activity Under Scrutiny
Officials allege that Parveen actively operated several flagged Instagram and Facebook accounts, through which she shared radical speeches, sermons, and videos. A preliminary forensic examination of her mobile phone reportedly revealed that she had uploaded content from AQIS leaders such as Maulana Asim Umar and Anwar al-Awlaki, promoting jihadist ideologies, including the concept of Ghazwa-e-Hind.
Parveen is also alleged to have circulated videos of Maulana Abdul Aziz, the controversial cleric of Pakistan’s Lal Masjid, which called for armed revolt against the Indian government. Authorities claim her content aimed to incite communal discord and inspire extremist sentiments among Indian youth.
A Gujarat ATS official stated, “Her online activities were consistent with digital radicalisation tactics. She played a significant role in amplifying extremist narratives.”
Links to ULFA and Broader Network Suspected
Further investigations have pointed to Parveen’s alleged contact with individuals associated with ULFA, a banned insurgent outfit operating in the northeast of India. Her communications and digital footprint reportedly revealed efforts to promote collaboration among extremist groups and expand ideological reach through encrypted platforms.
Following her arrest, Parveen was produced before the 8th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court in Bengaluru. A transit warrant was granted, and she was subsequently transferred to Ahmedabad for further interrogation. Authorities are now analysing additional data from her mobile devices, including suspected email accounts and foreign connections, particularly with entities based in Pakistan.
Online Radicalisation and Propaganda
According to ATS sources, Parveen had amassed over 10,000 followers across various social media platforms. Investigators believe she was not merely a consumer of extremist content but also a propagator, possibly functioning as a digital recruiter. Her interactions reportedly included following and engaging with multiple radicalised users already under surveillance.
Officials noted that leads from a separate investigation—specifically an Instagram account named ‘sharyat_ya_shahadat’, allegedly run by co-accused Mohd Faiq—eventually led them to Parveen. That account had shared content from other flagged handles, including ‘Strangers Of The Nation’ and its variations.
“Handling Narratives, Not Weapons”
A senior ATS official remarked, “In today’s digital age, individuals like Parveen may not wield weapons, but they weaponise narratives. Such content can destabilise communities and influence vulnerable minds.”
As the probe deepens, police in Karnataka and Gujarat are examining Parveen’s local network and possible collaborators. Intelligence agencies are also assessing the scope of transnational connections that may have facilitated the dissemination of extremist propaganda.