The quiet town of Khatra in Bankura district was shaken on Friday following the arrest of a 20-year-old youth over suspected links with terror organizations. The accused, identified as Mir Afis Ali, was picked up by the police after a tip-off regarding his involvement in highly suspicious digital activities. While his family and neighbors believed he was working a regular job in Delhi, the investigation has revealed a darker side to his online presence.

Tracking the Digital Footprint The arrest came after intelligence agencies flagged a specific WhatsApp group that was allegedly being used to circulate radical ideologies and plans for disruptive activities across the country. Mir Afis Ali was reportedly an active participant in this group. Surveillance of his mobile records showed that he was in contact with individuals whose activities are under the scanner of national security agencies. He was apprehended shortly after returning to his hometown in Khatra.

Probing the Sleeper Cell Angle Investigators are now looking into whether Mir Afis was part of a larger ‘sleeper cell’ operating between Delhi and West Bengal. His role in the group is being scrutinized to understand if he was being trained for a tactical mission or if his primary job was recruitment and propaganda. “We have seized his mobile device and other digital footprints are being analyzed,” a senior police official stated. The arrest has raised concerns about the growing influence of online radicalization in rural pockets. The police are also questioning his associates in both Delhi and Bankura to determine if he has managed to build a local network.