2 min readLucknowUpdated: Apr 25, 2026 09:23 AM IST
Police on Friday arrested two more accused in an FIR registered in Bijnor district in connection with an alleged terror network orchestrated by a Dubai-based man, officials said.
The Dubai-based alleged mastermind, Aaquib, hails from Meerut district.
The two arrested are Aaquib’s brother-in-law Zulfiqar alias Raka and Arif Malik, both residents of Bijnor.
Police had earlier arrested Aaquib’s four associates, identified as Uvaid Malik, Jalal Haider, Sameer alias Ruhan and Majul.
A police spokesperson said during his interrogation Arif disclosed that he had formed a group of local youths with an intent to carry out criminal activities. Aaquib had even got firing carried out outside his house in February last year to bring the group together, police claimed.
Arif had not informed the police about the firing incident and later joined Aaquib through social media.
Arif also told police that Aaquib alerted him through WhatsApp and instructed Zulfikar to delete all the photos and videos related to him, officials said.
During his interrogation, Zulfikar revealed that he has been living in Tamil Nadu for the last two years and was working as a barber, they said, adding that he got connected with Aaquib through social media two years ago.
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The two said Aaquib used to upload provocative videos on social media, including statements made by Hindu individuals against Muslims. He also uploaded videos and photos of torching of vehicles belonging to a particular community and damaging of railway tracks, they said.
The Bijnor police, in coordination with state Anti-Terror Squad (ATS), has been investigating the case which was filed at the Nangal police station last year following a video of Aaquib allegedly displaying an assault rifle and a grenade and making provocative anti-India statements had surfaced.
Police have issued a lookout notice against Aaquib and his aide Azad who is also based in Dubai.
