Uttar Pradesh Government Cracks Down on Spies Working for Pakistan
The Uttar Pradesh government has intensified its crackdown on espionage activities linked to Pakistan, leading to significant arrests by the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS). Among those detained is Tufail Alam, accused of sharing sensitive information with Pakistani contacts through various WhatsApp groups. The investigation uncovered his connections with banned terrorist organizations and his radical activities. Additionally, another suspect, Mohammad Haroon, was arrested for collaborating with an ISI agent under diplomatic cover. This ongoing campaign highlights the state's commitment to safeguarding national security against external threats.
| May 23, 2025, 11:50 IST
Uttar Pradesh's Anti-Terrorist Efforts
The government of Uttar Pradesh has launched a significant initiative against individuals residing in India who are allegedly working for Pakistan. The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) is actively pursuing a campaign to apprehend those involved in espionage activities for Pakistan. Recently, several key arrests have been made, including that of 45-year-old Tufail Alam from Varanasi. He has been detained on charges of spying for a Pakistan-sponsored network, which poses a threat to India's sovereignty and internal security. Reports indicate that Tufail was arrested in the Adam Pur area. According to ATS officials, Tufail participated in multiple WhatsApp groups operated by organizations supported by Pakistan, sharing sensitive information related to India's internal security with his contacts in Pakistan.
Investigations revealed that Tufail was in contact with several Pakistani nationals, including members of the banned terrorist organization Tehreek-e-Labbaik. He frequently disseminated incendiary content, including videos of Maulana Saad Rizvi and messages related to 'Ghazwa-e-Hind', revenge for the Babri Masjid demolition, and the implementation of Sharia law in India. He also shared images and details of significant locations such as Rajghat, Namo Ghat, Gyanvapi, railway stations, Jama Masjid, Red Fort, and Nizamuddin Dargah with Pakistani numbers. It has been reported that Tufail sent links to these WhatsApp groups to other locals in Varanasi and was in contact with over 600 Pakistani numbers. He was also in touch with a woman named Nafisa from Faisalabad, Pakistan, whose husband serves in the Pakistani army. Authorities have registered a case under sections 148 and 152 of the Indian Penal Code at the ATS station in Lucknow, and Tufail will be presented before the competent court for further legal proceedings. An ATS officer noted that Tufail appears to be highly radicalized, as he shared content related to the leader of the Pakistan-based banned terrorist organization Tehreek-e-Labbaik, Maulana Shah Rizvi, and messages about avenging the Babri Masjid demolition.
Additional Arrests in Noida
In a related development, a man named Haroon has been arrested from Noida in Gautam Buddh Nagar. ATS officials shared a press note revealing that the arrested individual is identified as Mohammad Haroon, 45, a resident of Seelampur, Delhi. He was allegedly sharing sensitive information with a Pakistani ISI agent, Muzammil Hussain, who was operating under diplomatic cover at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Muzammil Hussain was declared 'persona non grata' and ordered to leave India on Wednesday. A senior ATS officer stated that Mohammad Haroon, who was involved in the scrap business, came into contact with Muzammil while trying to obtain a visa to visit relatives in Pakistan. Subsequently, he became an agent for Muzammil, providing clients in exchange for money to assist with the visa process. The officer added that Haroon also transferred the same money to various individuals under Muzammil's instructions and shared critical information related to national security directly.