Seven people, including three Pakistani nationals, have been booked; police say the 24-year-old’s chats point to illegal arms trafficking and extremist channels
Bidar: Karnataka police have arrested a 24-year-old man from Bhalki taluk for allegedly using WhatsApp and Instagram to stay in touch with members of banned terror outfits and illegal arms traffickers. Six others, including three Pakistan-based nationals, have been named in the case.
Vishalkumar Vijaykumar Metre of Yenkoor village was arrested on Saturday and produced in court. The FIR, filed on October 1 at Khatak Chincholi police station, also names Pakistan-based Shahzad Bhatti, Rana Hunain and Nomi Khan; Ashu Sharma of Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh; Raj Bhai alias Lucky Singh of Madhya Pradesh; and one other person.
Acting on a pre-dawn tip-off, police reached Metre’s home around 3.30 am. According to the complaint, they found him asleep outside. A preliminary check of his phone allegedly showed conversations with Bhatti, whom police describe as a designated terrorist, about buying and moving illegal weapons. Hunain allegedly added him to private WhatsApp channels carrying content police consider a threat to national unity. Investigators say the activity dates back to December 2025.
The case has been registered under Sections 18, 20 and 39 of the UAPA, along with conspiracy provisions of the BNS.
Superintendent of Police Pradeep Gunti said investigators are examining digital evidence and checking whether any weapons were actually procured. He added that social media surveillance has been stepped up. None of the allegations have yet been proven in court
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