The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested four youths accused of links to a Pakistani ISI handler and radical groups. They conducted reconnaissance of key sites and political figures, and planned attacks on railway infrastructure. Officials said their aim was to create fear and cause economic damage.
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested four youths on April 3, 2026, accused of contacting a Pakistani ISI handler and radical groups via social media platforms including Telegram, Signal, and Instagram. The accused are Vikas Ghelawat (27) alias Raunak and Lokesh alias Papla Pandit alias Babu alias Sanju (19), both from Gautam Buddha Nagar; Saqib alias Devil (25) and Arbaab (20), both from Meerut. According to an ATS statement, Saqib and Arbaab recruited Vikas and Lokesh via social media by luring them with money.
The group surveilled cities including Ghaziabad, Aligarh, and Lucknow, reconnoitred railway signal boxes, and sent videos to the Pakistani handler, who shared Google locations of key sites. They scouted important institutions, military installations, police stations, and political figures, sharing sensitive information. The accused admitted to minor arson incidents, which they recorded and shared with handlers who paid via QR codes.
On April 2, Saqib Devil and associates planned arson or an explosion on railway signal systems near Lucknow railway station. ATS teams arrested them before execution. Handlers invoked names like Osama bin Laden and Farhatullah Ghori, using slogans such as 'Ghazwa-e-Hind' to incite attacks on vehicles on religious grounds. Officials said the activities aimed to undermine India's sovereignty and integrity, creating fear and economic harm.