Katihar: The arrest of a young plumber from Bihar’s Katihar district has stunned his family and shaken the quiet village where he lived. Md Sohail, a resident of Nawabganj Balu Tola under the Manihari police station area, was arrested by the Delhi Police’s Special Cell on allegations of being involved in extremist activities. Police claim he was influenced by radical ideologies linked to “Ghazwa-e-Hind” and was allegedly involved in recruiting and influencing others. The case has raised fresh concerns about how such ideas may be spreading unnoticed.
For Sohail’s family, the news has been deeply upsetting and difficult to accept. His mother, Anguri Khatoon, said her son had always lived a simple and ordinary life. After completing his matriculation, Sohail had travelled to Bengaluru in search of work but returned home due to health issues. He later began working as a plumber with his father, Md Mumtaz. According to his family, he never behaved in a way that would make them suspect any involvement in illegal or extremist activities.
Police officials said a joint team of the Delhi Police and local Katihar police carried out a raid at Sohail’s home a few days before his arrest. During the search, officers recovered a mobile phone which was later examined. According to Katihar superintendent of police Shikhar Chaudhary, forensic analysis of the phone revealed material that raised serious concerns for investigators. Based on this, Sohail was asked to appear before the Delhi Police in the capital.
It is understood that Sohail travelled to Delhi with his father, where he was later taken into custody. Investigators have also said that he frequently travelled between cities such as Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, which they are now examining as part of the case. However, officials have not yet shared full details about the alleged network or the extent of his involvement.
Back in his village, people are struggling to come to terms with the situation. Neighbours describe Sohail as a quiet and hardworking young man, making the allegations even more surprising. As the investigation continues, authorities are focusing on uncovering whether others may be linked to the case, while his family continues to say they had no knowledge of any such activities.
