Terrorism
Bengal man arrested in Bengaluru over terror links, Afghanistan travel plan
Bengaluru/IBNS: Bengaluru Police have detained a 25-year-old man from West Bengal over alleged links with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and suspected plans to travel to Afghanistan.
The man, identified as Asafool Mallik, was detained in the Jigani area of Bengaluru following an inquiry into his alleged suspicious online activities and connections with people linked to terror groups, police said.
Mallik is a native of Naopara village in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
He had been living near APC Circle in Jigani and working as a security guard at Tata Advanced Limited in the Jigani Industrial Area since December 2025.
Police probe TTP connection
According to police, officers received information about the alleged activities of a West Bengal native while conducting patrols in the Bommasandra Industrial Area.
Police subsequently questioned Mallik.
During the questioning, he allegedly told investigators that he was angry over what he believed were atrocities against Muslims in Pakistan, including alleged attacks on mosques and civilians.
Police also said Mallik had expressed anger over Pakistan's position on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Investigators allege that Mallik was being encouraged to retaliate if Muslims encountered difficulties in India.
Contact with Afghanistan-based person
Police said their investigation uncovered an alleged online connection between Mallik and a person identified as Imran Haider from Afghanistan, who is believed by investigators to have links with the TTP.
According to the police, Mallik had established contact with Haider through Facebook and allegedly sought his assistance in travelling to Afghanistan.
Mallik had reportedly applied for a visa as part of the plan, although police said he later abandoned the proposed journey because of financial constraints and family responsibilities.
Chats under investigation
Following his detention, police examined Mallik's mobile phone and allegedly found conversations between him and Haider.
Investigators also recovered records of several voice calls and audio conversations, police said.
The police are now examining the contents of the chats, voice recordings and other material found on the phone to determine the extent and nature of Mallik's alleged links with the suspected TTP associate.
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