BHOPAL: ISIS suspect Mohammad Azhar, arrested from Bhopal on Monday, was instrumental in establishing terror network in Uttar Pradesh, said an NIA officer. A student of Deobandi fountainhead, Darul Uloom, Azhar was a key recruiter for ISIS in the Hindi heartland, the officer added.His arrest comes just weeks before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Bhopal on February 18.Azhar was also closely associated with Mudabbir Mushtaq Shaikh, believed to be ISIS’s primary recruiter in India. NIA sources said they would verify if Azhar went Nepal or any neighbouring country from UP. He attended several meetings of terror groups in UP, aimed at carrying out attacks.“Azhar and other suspects were in constant touch with ISIS members in Syria through Internet chatting applications like ‘Signal’ and ‘Trillion’ and were using social networking sites to motivate youths to join ISIS,” said crime branch official. His mobile phone has been recovered. Azhar had created a WhatsApp group to be in touch with other members of the group.He was holed up in Bhopal at his uncle’s place after arrest of 15 associates, a month ago. Before coming to Bhopal he went to his native place, Barkheda village in Obaidullaganj, and told his family he was going to the state capital to take coaching in English.Call details of Azhar and terror funding are being investigated by NIA. Madhya Pradesh police has categorically asked NIA to let them know if any of 16 arrested have terror links with the state.Azhar came to Bhopal after five years. Crime branch officials said they are yet to establish his criminal record in Bhopal and other parts of state. Azhar was not surprised when police picked him up, but during interrogation he pleaded innocence and said it was by mistake that he came in contact with the terror outfit and took part in meetings. Police said they would further tighten security for PM’s visit after the arrest of terror suspect.Investigating agencies denied seizing a passport from his possession. Earlier, gangster Abu Salem and actor Monica Bedi were booked in Bhopal for allegedly acquiring passports on basis of fake documents, following which cases were registered against them at Koh-e-Fiza police station in 2001.