Latest news with #Tufail
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Pakistani woman Nafisa linked to radicalisation of 240 Indian youths, UP ATS probes ISI network
LUCKNOW: Over 800 individuals, all contacts of Tufail Maqsood, 34, who was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) from Varanasi on 21 May on charges of spying for Pakistan, are under the radar of the agency. All the 800 people were added to 19 WhatsApp groups operated by Tufail. Notably, UP ATS had arrested Tufail Maqsood from Varanasi, Mohammad Harun, 45, of Delhi, from Noida on 21 May, and Rampur resident Shahzad Wahab, 35, in the same connection from Moradabad on 18 May. All three are currently in ATS custody for interrogation. The details of all 800 contacts were retrieved from Tufail's phone. An ATS source claimed that Tufail had been operating 19 WhatsApp groups to stay in touch with his modules across seven eastern UP districts, including Varanasi, Jaunpur, Mau, Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Chandauli, and Ghazipur. He was allegedly involved in radicalising them in the name of religion by posting inflammatory speeches of clerics and terror group 'leaders' from across the border. Establishing his links to Gajwa-e-Hind, Tufail used to post content related to 'establishing Muslim rule in India before 2047 and bringing Shariat law into force in the country'.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Espionage case: 800 members of Varanasi man's WhatsApp groups on ATS radar
LUCKNOW The UP Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) is scanning credentials of around 800 people added to 19 'anti-national' WhatsApp groups operated by Tufail Maqsood, 34, who was arrested by the agency from Varanasi on May 21 on charges of spying for Pakistan, said officials on Friday. The details have been retrieved from Tufail's phone and credentials of people linked to his social media network are being cross-checked, said officials interrogating the accused. Tufail Maqsood, Delhi resident Mohd Harun, 45, who was arrested from Noida by UP ATS on May 21 and Rampur resident Shahzad Wahab, 35, who was nabbed in the same connection from Moradabad on May 18, are in ATS custody for interrogation. An ATS official said Tufail created around 19 WhatsApp groups to connect with different people of seven east UP districts including Varanasi, Jaunpur, Mau, Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Chandauli and Ghazipur. He allegedly radicalised them in the name of religion by posting inflammatory speeches of clerics and terror group 'leaders'. 'He posted content related to 'establishing Muslim rule in India before 2047 and enforcing Shariat law in the country'. And these contents were shared to him by a Pakistani woman Nafisa, whom he was in touch with for the past four months after coming in contact through social media platforms,' the official said. He said Nafisa's social media profile revealed that she was in touch with 240 youths in India, including six from UP districts including Varanasi, Lucknow, Bareilly, Kannauj, Moradabad and Rampur. 'It is suspected that Pakistan's secret agency ISI has been using Nafisa to connect with Indian youths and radicalise them to rope them in for spying and other nefarious activities,' added the official. Nafisa is suspected to have built a strong network of Indian youths and spreading hatred by inciting Muslim youths in the name of religion and atrocities on minorities in the country. She had roped in Tufail to make strengthen her network among youths, the official said. Earlier, the ATS had claimed that Tufail Maqsood, a resident of Jaitpura, Varanasi, was in touch with at least 600 Pakistani mobile numbers and shared sensitive information related to India's security. The agency stated that Tufail is highly radicalised as he used to share videos of banned Pak-based terror outfit Tehreek-e-Labbek's leader Maulana Shaad Rizvi and content related to 'revenge for Babri mosque demolition'.
India Gazette
23-05-2025
- India Gazette
UP ATS arrests Seelampur resident for alleged links with Pakistani operatives, military
New Delhi [India], May 23 (ANI): The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad has arrested one suspect from Seelampur in Delhi, allegedly involved in anti-national activities and having contact with Pakistani operatives, including officials connected to the Pakistani government and military. The accused has been identified as Mohammad Harun. Md Sahid, brother of the accused Harun, said, 'Two people came to Harun's house in civilian uniform, but he wasn't home. They met me and said that they were from the passport office, and those who came from Pakistan are being called back, made to sign, and then sent back after questioning. Then Harun went with them, and when he didn't return, we called him, the phone rang several times, and then it was switched off. When we went to the police station, they said they didn't know anything and sent him to Noida. Then he was presented at the Lucknow in court yesterday. By the time we arrived, it was too late, and we couldn't meet him.' He further said that he used to go to Pakistan as he had married there. 'He went to Pakistan last time on April 5 and returned back on 25th. During Covid, Harun used to help people in the locality,' he added. Rukaiya Begum, mother of Harun, said, 'I have been living here since I was 12 years old. Harun never said anything to suggest there was something going on. I wasn't there when they took him away. He got married a second time in Pakistan, which is why he used to go there once a year. He must have gotten to know Mujammil through visa-related work. That man has trapped my son. If this has been going on for three months, then why didn't you stop him from crossing the border? You could have caught him if he were doing something wrong.' Shabana, wife of Md. Harun said, 'My husband is innocent. He had a second marriage in Pakistan and used to go there to meet her. He also worked on visa-related matters, and the visa always came after a full inquiry. He hasn't done anything wrong, he is a heart patient. I want to meet him once; they arrested him and didn't even allow us to meet him.' Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) received intelligence that Tufail, son of Maqsood Alam, a resident of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, was associated with a WhatsApp group created by Pakistan-backed anti-national organisations aimed at harming India's sovereignty, unity, and integrity, said an official statement. Tufail is a resident of Doshipura, Jaitpura, District in Varanasi. It was also reported that the individual was sharing important internal security-related information with Pakistani phone numbers. According to the release, upon developing this intelligence, the ATS field unit in Varanasi confirmed that the accused, Tufail, was in contact with multiple individuals in Pakistan. Tufail was sharing videos of Maulana Shad Rizvi, a leader of the terrorist organisation Tehreek-e-Labbaik in Pakistan, on WhatsApp groups. He was also sharing messages calling for 'Ghazwa-e-Hind,' avenging the Babri Masjid incident, and implementing Sharia law in India. Tufail had shared images and information related to several key Indian locations, including Rajghat, Namoghat, Gyanvapi, the railway station, Jama Masjid, Red Fort, and Nizamuddin Auliya, with Pakistani numbers. He also circulated the link to these Pakistan-run groups among many other people in Varanasi. Tufail was reportedly in contact with over 600 Pakistani numbers. He was also in contact via Facebook with a woman named Nafeesa, a resident of Faisalabad, Pakistan, whose husband is reportedly in the Pakistani army. On May 22, 2025, Tufail was arrested from Adampur, Varanasi under FIR No. 05/25, Sections 148/152 of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) at ATS Police Station, Lucknow. The accused will be presented before the Court as per legal procedure for further judicial action. (ANI)
India Today
23-05-2025
- India Today
Mysore Sandal Soap's new brand ambassador sparks language, culture controversy
1:02 Haroon and Tufail have been arrested by UP ATS for allegedly leaking sensitive information to Pakistani handlers.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
UP ATS arrests 2 for suspected espionage, links with Pakistan
Uttar Pradesh ATS has arrested two individuals, Mohd Haroon and Tufail, for their alleged involvement in activities threatening national security. Haroon is accused of illegally facilitating Pakistani visas and sharing sensitive information with a Pakistan High Commission employee. Tufail is suspected of promoting extremist ideologies, sharing sensitive details with Pakistani contacts, and attempting to undermine India's sovereignty. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Uttar Pradesh has arrested two individuals for their alleged involvement in illegal visa facilitation , sharing sensitive national security information , and promoting extremist ideologies with suspected links with Pakistan, officials said Friday. In the first case, the ATS arrested Mohd Haroon (45), a scrap dealer from Delhi's Seelampur, from Noida on Thursday, an official statement was reportedly collaborating with Muzammal Hussain, an employee in the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, to illegally secure Pakistani visas in exchange for money, while also allegedly transmitting sensitive information deemed harmful to India's national interest."Haroon was reportedly in regular contact with Muzammal Hussain. Investigation suggests that Haroon's familial connections in Pakistan facilitated their initial interaction during his visits to the country and the high commission," the statement allegedly worked with Hussain to collect money from multiple individuals under the pretence of arranging Pakistani visas. These funds were then deposited into various bank accounts, the statement return, Haroon reportedly received a commission and delivered cash to specified individuals or locations on Hussain's knowing Hussain's diplomatic status and Pakistani nationality, Haroon "continued to share crucial information concerning India's internal security", the ATS revealed, adding that the information was allegedly used by Hussain in his efforts to "destabilise" the revelations, the Government of India declared Hussain persona non grata and ordered his expulsion from the a parallel operation at Adampur in Varanasi, the ATS on Thursday arrested another suspect identified as Tufail, son of Maqsood Alam, a resident of to the ATS, Tufail was suspected of attempting to undermine India's sovereignty and unity by joining "anti-national" WhatsApp groups and forming a subversive organisation allegedly backed by Pakistani is also accused of sharing sensitive information with Pakistani contacts."Tufail was reportedly in contact with numerous Pakistani individuals and was actively sharing videos of Maulana Shad Rizvi, leader of the banned Pakistani terror group Tehreek-e-Labbaik," the statement said."He also disseminated content promoting ' Ghazwa-e-Hind ', called for revenge over the Babri Masjid incident, and advocated for the imposition of Sharia law in India," it allegedly shared photographs and details of locations, including Rajghat, Namoghat, Gyanvapi mosque, Varanasi railway station, Jama Masjid, Red Fort, and Nizamuddin with Pakistani phone numbers, the ATS to ATS sources, Tufail was in contact with more than 600 Pakistani numbers, including a woman named Nafisa from Faisalabad, whose husband is reportedly a Pakistan Army FIRs have been registered against both the accused at the ATS police station in Lucknow.
