LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Thursday arrested two youths from Bulandshahr district for allegedly working with ISI-based operatives to spread fear and carry out anti-national tasks. According to ATS officials, the accused were instructed to surveil the Army Cantonment in Lucknow and the Indian Air Force Station at Bamarauli, sharing the information with their handlers. They were promised Rs 10,000 for this task.
Details of the Arrest
The ATS on Wednesday arrested Mohammad Umar (19) and Faizan (21), both residents of Akbarpur village in Bulandshahr district. The duo, educated only up to Class 5, were linked to a terror network operated by Pakistani gangster Shehzad Bhatti and his associates. Investigators said the network is backed by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and aims to create sleeper cells in India through online platforms.
Modus Operandi
The accused came into contact with Pakistani gangsters Shehzad Bhatti, Abid Jatt, Hammad Barkati, and Rana Hunain via WhatsApp and Instagram. They were tasked with spreading fear and showcasing the influence of Pakistan-based criminal-terror networks in India. During interrogation, they admitted to pasting posters bearing the photograph and name of Pakistani gangster Abid Jatt at multiple locations in Bulandshahr. They also recorded videos of the poster-pasting exercise and sent them to their handlers as proof. The duo was promised Rs 12,000 for completing this assignment.
Recoveries and Investigation
The agency recovered 55 posters of Abid Jatt, videos of the posters being pasted, and other digital evidence from the accused. ATS believes the objective was not just propaganda but to create an atmosphere of fear and establish the visibility of the Pakistan-based network in India. Further investigation revealed that the duo had been assigned a more serious task: reconnaissance of sensitive defence installations.
ATS officials noted that the case highlights a disturbing pattern where hostile foreign networks exploit economically weak and poorly educated youths by offering easy money for seemingly minor assignments, which can escalate into activities threatening national security. The use of social media platforms to identify, influence, and recruit such individuals has become a significant concern for security agencies.
Legal Action and Ongoing Probe
A case has been registered as Case Crime No. 08/2026 at the ATS Police Station in Lucknow under relevant legal provisions. Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the network and ascertain the extent of its operations in India. ATS said that before these arrests, five cases had been registered and 15 accused arrested in connection with the same Pakistan-linked module. The agency is now probing whether more youths were recruited through similar online channels for tasks ranging from propaganda to reconnaissance of sensitive locations.
