Lucknow: The arrest of 19-year-old Maqsood Ali from Coimbatore over alleged links with the ideology of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) has left his family in Siddharthnagar stunned, with relatives saying they never suspected that the teenager could be associated with any extremist organisation.For the family in Maghavapur hamlet, the news came as a shock. Relatives said they were not even aware that Maqsood was in Coimbatore until they learnt about his arrest on Sept 14 by the Tamil Nadu ATS and Lucknow ATS.Maqsood’s uncle, Saddam Hussain, said the teenager had recently completed his intermediate in first division and left home about three months ago in search of job.“He was good at studies and had never created any trouble at home. After passing intermediate, he went to Mumbai through a relative to find work,” his uncle said.According to his relatives, Maqsood spent considerable time on mobile phone, but the family did not regard this as suspicious.Whenever questioned about his phone use, he reportedly told them that he was watching or searching for material related to his studies.Some villagers claimed that he played online games. The possibility that he might have come into contact with extremists through online platforms is being examined by investigators.After leaving home, Maqsood initially went to Mumbai, where he learnt carpentry. He later moved to Surat after finding work unsuitable.Police said a contractor he was working with subsequently sent him to Kerala. Investigators are now trying to establish how he reached Coimbatore.Maqsood’s father is a farmer, and his mother is a homemaker. The family has no known criminal background.“Maqsood has been arrested by the ATS. Local-level verification has been conducted and no criminal history has been found against him here. Whatever assistance the investigating agency seeks will be provided,” Siddharthnagar SP Abhishek Mahajan said.
