LUCKNOW: During the three-day intensive interrogation of terror suspect Bilal Khan (34) by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), investigators found that the accused was in touch with nearly 4,000 Pakistani phone numbers and was in regular contact with Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) leaders based in Pakistan. Bilal allegedly received direct instructions to plan and execute AQIS-related activities in India, ATS officials said.Bilal, son of Sharifullah and a resident of Papri village under Titron police station in Saharanpur, was arrested on September 15, 2025 and sent to jail. A special court recently remanded the ATS to nine days of police custody starting November 4, 2025, for further interrogation to uncover the network of AQIS sympathizers and operatives linked to Bilal, ATS officials said.According to ATS officials, investigations so far have revealed that Bilal was deeply influenced by Asim Umar Sambhali, the first chief of AQIS and a native of Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. “Asim Umar, who was handpicked by Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, is believed to have inspired Bilal with his jihadist preaching and online propaganda. Bilal reportedly shared extremist content on social media promoting Umar’s ideology and justifying violent jihad as a means of imposing a Sharia regime in India,” ATS added.The ATS investigation revealed that Bilal used multiple social media platforms to interact with thousands of Pakistani citizens and became an active participant in anti-India and pro-jihadi online groups. Allegedly, he tried to recruit local youth and incite them against the constitutional field of the country.After the Pahalgam attack, Bilal is said to have glorified the slain terrorists of Operation Sindoor as martyrs, circulated videos insulting Indian security forces and distributed propaganda materials in support of the Pakistan Army while calling for the “liberation of Kashmir”.Investigators also revealed that Bilal swore allegiance to his Pakistani AQIS chief, reaffirming his allegiance to the global jihadist mission. In one extremist group, he posted a quote attributed to Asim Umar: “If you follow the path of jihad, mujahideen from Morocco to the Philippines will stand with you and wherever their sweat falls, people will shed blood,” ATS claimed.The ATS is currently investigating Bilal’s local associates, channels of communication and the extent of his operational involvement in AQIS-related activities. Officials believe his arrest could help uncover a wider network of radicalization and recruitment operating in western Uttar Pradesh and other parts of India.
