A terror group linked to Pakistan, operating from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, utilized Hindu recruits and disguised identities to conduct covert activities at sensitive locations, according to Uttar Pradesh ATS investigators. The interrogation of Shakib, a key suspect, revealed that he maintained direct communication with handlers in Pakistan, being instructed to avoid detection and fulfill the mission labeled as “Ghazwa-e-Hind.”
Handlers warned Shakib about potential false flag operations by India and emphasized the careful expansion of the network to evade detection. To bypass security checks, Shakib was tasked with bringing in young Hindu men like Vikas and Lokesh, who were given coded aliases “Zahid” and “Salim,” respectively, to conceal their true roles within the module.
The investigation also unearthed an overseas connection to Dubai, where a man named Aaqib allegedly coordinated the group and acted as a liaison between Shakib and Pakistani handlers. Aaqib reportedly used social media platforms to recruit individuals, offering money and sharing radical content to attract youths into anti-India activities.
The group conducted surveillance on defense installations and cantonment areas across the state, filming and sharing videos with handlers. Additionally, they gathered intelligence on prominent religious and Hindutva leaders’ movements and security arrangements.
Several arrests have been made by the Uttar Pradesh ATS, including Shakib alias Devil, Arbab, Vikas alias Raunak, and Lokesh alias Papla Pandit. The investigation revealed a familiar pattern of operations resembling previous cases involving Pakistan-linked modules in Uttar Pradesh, highlighting the use of social media for recruitment, foreign handler connections, and targeting critical infrastructure. Authorities are now examining potential interconnections among these modules.