Uttar Pradesh ATS Arrests Suspect for Espionage Linked to Pakistan
Arrest of Mohammad Tufail in Varanasi
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (UP ATS) has apprehended Mohammad Tufail from Nawapura in Varanasi on charges of espionage for Pakistan. Sources indicate that over 500 mobile numbers from the eastern Uttar Pradesh region, linked to Tufail's WhatsApp group, are now under surveillance. Investigations revealed that Tufail was instructed to contact a woman named Nafisa from Faisalabad after joining several WhatsApp groups associated with Pakistan. Gradually, he fell into a honey trap, frequently chatting with Nafisa and sending her images of sensitive locations.
Sharing Sensitive Information
Tufail not only exchanged information with Nafisa but also sent her gifts. Investigative agencies have confirmed that he delivered items, including a saree and a suit, via routes through Nepal and Punjab. The UP ATS is currently trying to determine which cities Tufail visited at Nafisa's behest and what sensitive images or videos he shared with her. They are also examining his participation in religious events or conferences attended by Muslim youth.
Formation of WhatsApp Groups
Large groups associated with Tufail, often numbering between 200 and 250, regularly visited his home. After traveling to various cities in Uttar Pradesh and Sirhind in Punjab, Tufail reportedly created around 20 WhatsApp groups. He utilized these groups to emotionally influence educated Muslim youth in cities like Varanasi, Mau, Azamgarh, and Lucknow. Tufail frequently shared incendiary videos, including those featuring Maulana Saad Rizvi, condemning the demolition of the Babri Masjid as an affront to Islam.
Advocacy for Sharia Law
Tufail also posted messages advocating for the establishment of Sharia law in India through legal and political means, similar to practices in Pakistan. He claimed that India needed Islamic scholars like Saad Rizvi to guide Muslim youth in the right direction. The ATS is now investigating Tufail's bank accounts and identifying his contacts in both Pakistan and India, scrutinizing all financial transactions linked to him and increasing surveillance on suspicious numbers.