Uttar Pradesh ATS Uncovers Terror Plot: Arrests Spark National Security Concerns

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested two young men for allegedly conspiring to conduct terror attacks under the directives of ISI-linked operatives. The accused planned to target sensitive locations, including police establishments. Their recruitment and radicalization were reportedly facilitated via social media. Further investigation is ongoing.

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has apprehended two young men accused of plotting terror attacks on major state installations, as confirmed by officials on Wednesday. The suspects allegedly followed orders from Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI affiliates, notably gangster Shahzad Bhatti and Abid Jatt, to target critical sites, including police stations in Uttar Pradesh and beyond.

The ATS revealed that their probe received intelligence pointing to Pakistan-based terror groups recruiting Indian youth as operatives through platforms like Instagram, forming sleeper cells for carrying out disruptive operations. The accused were lured and radicalized with financial rewards to threaten national integrity, unity, and sovereignty.

After verifying information with electronic and physical surveillance, ATS squads registered a case, leading to the arrests of Krishna Mishra and Daniyal Ashraf in Kushinagar and Barabanki, respectively. Pakistani contact numbers and incriminating digital correspondence from social media were found on their devices, supporting the allegations of planned anti-national activities.