Latest news with #UPATS
New Indian Express
4 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
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Rajasthan police detains govt employee for alleged spying amid Indo-Pak tensions
Rajasthan Police on Friday detained a government employee, Shakur Khan, on the allegations of spying, in Jaisalmer. According to Jaisalmer Superintendent of Police (SP) Sudhir Chaudhary, Khan is undergoing interrogation. Also Read: Pakistani espionage network: UP ATS to bring 3 suspects face to face, grill them over links Speaking to ANI, SP Sudhir Chaudhary said, "Shakur Khan, who is a government employee, has been detained and interrogation is being done..." The police had previously appealed to the public for information regarding suspicious individuals in the area. Several people have been detained for questioning, and action has been taken against those found to be sending sensitive information across the border. Also Read: 'Honeytrapped' Thane man arrested for sharing sensitive information with Pakistan: Report "We had appealed to the public to give us information regarding the presence of any suspicious person. We have already detained many persons for interrogation, and action has been taken against those who were sending important information across the border..," said Sudhir Chaudhary. Amid action against spies in the state, earlier today, the Delhi Police Special Cell started questioning the Pakistani spy arrested from Deeg, Rajasthan. Interrogation revealed that the accused spy returned to India one week before the Pahalgam attack. Also Read: YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was aware her Pakistani friends were ISI operatives, says police As per the police sources, the interrogation so far has revealed that Kasim has received about two lakh Pakistani rupees in different instalments from Pakistan in exchange for spying. Kasim has told during the interrogation that he deleted all the data from the phone. He has said that when the spies started getting caught in India post the Pahalgam attack, he deleted the data from his phone. However, the police will get the phone forensically examined to verify his claims. The police are waiting for the forensic report of his mobile phone to identify his contacts in Pakistan. The police are trying to trace Kasim's call detail record (CDR) to know his contacts in India. Post Operation Sindoor, police across states are nabbing Pakistani spies. On May 18, Haryana Police arrested several individuals alleged to perform espionage activities for Pakistan. Among the recent arrests, YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, accused of spying against India, has made the headlines. On May 26, Haryana's Hisar District Court sent Jyoti into judicial custody, and the first hearing of her case is scheduled on June 9.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Time of India
On the run since 2008, Moradabad court jails Hizbul terrorist for 10 years
Bareilly: A Moradabad court sentenced a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist to 10 years in prison for his role in a 2002 terror plot involving explosives and weapons. Ulfat Hussain, also known as Mohammad Saiful Islam and a resident of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir, was arrested in his home state in March this year, 17 years after he absconded after being released on bail in 2008. Hussain was first arrested by Katghar police on July 9, 2002, along with three other terrorists. Based on their information, police recovered an AK-47, an AK-56, two 30-bore pistols, 12 hand grenades, 29kg of explosive material, 50 detonators, 39 timers, 8 magazines and 560 live cartridges. Officers suspected the group had planned to target religious sites and crowded areas in Moradabad. After being granted bail in 2008, Hussain went into hiding. He remained at large for nearly 17 years. Moradabad court issued permanent warrants against him in 2015 and again in 2025. A reward of 25,000 rupees was announced for his arrest. On March 8, 2025, a joint operation by UP ATS and Katghar police led to his arrest in Poonch. He was brought to Moradabad and lodged in jail. Additional district govt counsel Suresh Singh said, "After a prolonged trial, the court of additional district judge Chhaya Sharma found him guilty and awarded him 10 years in jail." The court convicted him under IPC section 307 (attempt to murder) and section 7 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, section 5 of the Explosives Substances Act, and section 25 of the Arms act.
News18
24-05-2025
- News18
'Visited Pakistan Before Pahalgam Attack': Brother Of Delhi Man Held On Espionage Charge
Last Updated: Mohammad Harun, a scrap dealer from Delhi, was arrested by the UP ATS for allegedly collaborating with a Pakistani High Commission official to share sensitive information. Mohammad Harun, arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad from Seelampur in Delhi on charges of espionage, last visited Pakistan before the Pahalgam terror attack, his family said. His brother also said Harun had a second wife there. Speaking to reporters, Harun's brother Sahid said some people in plain clothes visited Harun's house and inquired about him, saying that were looking for people who had returned from Pakistan in the recent past. Sahid also said that Harun had visited Pakistan on April 5 last and had returned on April 25. '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," Sahid said. 'Then Harun went with them, and when he didn't return, we called him, his 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. By the time we arrived, it was too late, and we couldn't meet him," he was quoted by news agency ANI as saying. Sahid further said Harun used to go to Pakistan as he had been married there. 'He went to Pakistan last time on April 5 and returned on the 25th. During Covid, Harun used to help people in the locality," he added. Speaking on his son's arrest, 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." She also named one Mujammil and alleged he trapped his son. 'He (Harun) 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," she said. Harun's wife, Shabana, confirmed her husband's second marriage in Pakistan and claimed Harun was innocent. '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," she said. Forty-five-year-old Harun worked as a scrap dealer and was suspected of being involved in anti-national activities. He was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad from Seelampur in Delhi on Thursday. Harun was also suspected to be having contacts with Pakistani operatives, including officials connected to the Pakistani government and military. According to PTI, Harun 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 report quoted an official statement. Harun 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 read. In return, Harun reportedly received a commission and delivered cash to specified individuals or locations on Hussain's behalf. Despite knowing Hussain's diplomatic status and Pakistani nationality, Harun '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" India. Following the revelations, the Government of India declared Hussain persona non grata and ordered his expulsion from the country. In a parallel operation at Adampur in Varanasi, the ATS on Thursday a rrested another suspect identified as Tufail, son of Maqsood Alam, a resident of Jaitpura. According 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 entities. He is also accused of sharing sensitive information with Pakistani contacts. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Espionage case india pakistan conflict Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 24, 2025, 09:11 IST
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.
