A software engineer from Pune, identified as Zubair Hangargekar, was arrested on Monday by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) for his alleged links with Pakistan-based Al Qaeda and involvement in radicalising youth, officials confirmed.
Hangargekar, who had been under ATS surveillance for over a month, was detained from the&nbsp;Kondhwa area of Pune city. 
After his arrest, he was produced before a Special UAPA Court, which remanded him to police custody till November 4.
According to officials, the accused was allegedly engaged in anti-national activities and had been planning terror strikes in Maharashtra and other cities. 
During searches at his residence, ATS officers seized incriminating materials believed to be used for the radicalisation of young individuals.
Earlier, on October 27, Pune Police detained four suspects from the Chennai Express at Pune Railway Station as part of a related investigation.
The arrest follows an ATS raid on October 9, which targeted multiple locations in Pune and led to the recovery of electronic devices, documents, and other materials suggesting a broader terror network operating in the region, according to sources.
This development also comes on the heels of the arrest of Md Adnan Khan (alias Abu Muharib, 19) from Delhi&rsquo;s&nbsp;Sadiq Nagar and&nbsp;Adnan Khan (alias Abu Mohammad, 20) from Bhopal in connection with an Islamic State (IS) case.&nbsp;
Investigations revealed that the two were radicalised online and were in direct contact with a handler in Syria.
Officials from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) stated that despite being defeated earlier, ISIS has regained strength in Syria and continues to conduct operations globally.&nbsp;
The group has already carried out 115 attacks this year, compared to 72 last year, signaling its resurgence.
According to IB sources, ISIS&rsquo;s India operations are also believed to be coordinated from Syria, highlighting the growing influence of online radicalisation networks across the region.

Pune techie arrested for alleged Al Qaeda links and radicalising youth online

Pune Techie Held For Al Qaeda Links

Pune techie arrested for alleged Al Qaeda links and radicalising youth online

October 28, 2025 | 10:13 IST