New Revelations in UP ATS Terror Module Investigation
Significant Findings in the Terror Module Case
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has uncovered shocking new details regarding a terror module. A recent video evidence has emerged, confirming connections with handlers based in Pakistan. This 25-second clip shows a handler instructing individuals in India on conducting destructive activities via video conferencing.
In the footage, the handler, wearing dark glasses and brandishing a weapon, is seen directing members of the network, including Papla Pandit, on executing terrorist acts. The ATS asserts that the four arrested suspects communicated with their handlers through video calls. However, investigations are ongoing to determine the date of the video and its specific purpose.
Plot to Spread Terror and Communal Tension in Mumbai
The investigation has revealed a serious objective behind this network: to instill fear in Mumbai. The handler specifically directed Lokesh and his associate Vikas to travel to Mumbai with orders to set fire to showrooms and vehicles. The primary agenda was to target the Hindu community, aiming to create an atmosphere of communal tension and fear within the country. The terrorist network utilized video calls to strategize these plots.
Financial Incentives and Arms Smuggling from Gurudaspur
According to police sources, Lokesh and Vikas were lured into this network with substantial financial incentives. They were misled into believing they would receive large sums for committing arson and vandalism. Initially, the handler assigned them the task of igniting showrooms in Mumbai, but due to police vigilance, they could not carry out the plan.
Their responsibilities extended beyond arson; they were also tasked with smuggling illegal weapons from Gurudaspur, Punjab, to designated locations. Additionally, they were instructed to undertake dangerous tasks, such as sabotaging train signals, to disrupt the country's transportation system.
Training and Task Assignment Process
The handler's operational methods resembled those of a professional terrorist organization. He would first brainwash his associates mentally and provide them with training. After completing their training, they were assigned minor tasks to build trust. Lokesh and Vikas underwent this same process. Following their success in smaller tasks, they were given instructions for larger incidents, but the proactive measures of the UP ATS led to the timely dismantling of the entire network.
Concerns Over Intelligence Failures
This revelation has raised questions about the effectiveness of local police and intelligence agencies (LIU). The existence of such a large network and international conspiracy went unnoticed by local law enforcement. When the ATS apprehended Lokesh and Vikas from Chapraula village in Greater Noida on the 28th, local police were completely unaware. Currently, the ATS and other agencies are working to uncover the full extent of this network and identify any additional individuals involved.