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Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Indian Express
Hizbul terrorist sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment in UP
A court in Moradabad has sentenced Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Ulfat Hussain to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for involvement in terror activities, the additional district government counsel said on Tuesday. Additional District and Sessions Judge, Moradabad, Chhaya Sharma also imposed a fine of Rs 48,000 on the terrorist in the order pronounced on Monday, ADGC Suresh Singh said. Ulfat Hussain alias Mohammad Saiful Islam, a resident of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir, has been involved in terrorist activities since 2002 and was absconding after being granted bail in 2008, according to Singh. The Moradabad court had issued permanent warrants against him in both 2015 and 2025. A reward of Rs 25,000 was announced for information leading to his arrest. On March 8, 2025, a joint operation conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Katghar Police successfully apprehended him in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, and subsequently transferred him to Moradabad jail, Singh said.
Hindustan Times
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delhi man arrested on espionage charges had visited Pakistan days before Pahalgam terror attack: Family
Mohammad Harun, a resident of Seelampur in Delhi, visited Pakistan 17 days before the Pahalgam terror attack, his family claimed, news agency ANI reported. The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had earlier arrested him on charges of spying and maintaining links with Pakistani agents. The arrest comes amid a broader ATS crackdown on alleged anti-national activities linked to Pakistan. Mohammad Harun has been charged with spying and maintaining links with Pakistani agents, including officials connected to Islamabad's government and military. Harun's family claimed he is innocent and was taken without explanation. Talking to reporters, his brother Md Sahid said Harun went with them, but the family lost contact with him soon after. 'When we called, the phone rang a few times and then switched off,' he added. Also read: YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was in touch with Pakistan operatives; no links to terror: Police 'Two people came to Harun's house in civilian uniform, but he wasn't home. They met me and said they were from the passport office. They told me that those who had returned from Pakistan were being called for questioning and would be sent back afterwards,' his brother said. Sahid further said Harun had visited Pakistan on April 5, and he returned on the 25th of the same month, as he is 'married' there. The timing of his visit, just before the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives, has raised further questions. Also read: How ex-Pakistan high commission staffer Danish targeted YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra 'My husband is innocent,' said Harun's wife, Shabana, claiming that he used to visit his wife in Pakistan and handle visa matters, which were always cleared after proper checks. She alleged that the authorities did not let his family meet before his arrest. The accused's mother, Rukaiya Begum, suggested her son was misled by a contact named Mujammil during visa-related work. 'He used to go to Pakistan once a year because of his second marriage. If he was under watch for three months, why wasn't he stopped at the border?' she asked. 'I have been living here since I was 12. Harun never said anything suspicious,' news agency ANI quoted Begum, as saying. Also read: Uttar Pradesh ATS arrests Varanasi resident for allegedly spying for Pakistan In a separate case, the ATS arrested Tufail, son of Maqsood Alam from Varanasi's Doshipura area. Officials say he was part of a WhatsApp group run by Pakistan-backed networks that promoted extremist views and shared sensitive information.
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 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)
NDTV
23-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
UP Man Arrested For Spying For Pak, Was Part Of "Anti-National" WhatsApp Groups
Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh): The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS0) 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 organizations aimed at harming India's sovereignty, unity, and integrity, said a 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 Honourable Court as per legal procedure for further judicial action. His mobile phone and SIM cards were also seized.
