Hapur (UP), Mar 19: Two alleged operatives linked to a Pakistan-based gangster network have been arrested in Uttar Pradesh’s Hapur district for sharing photos, videos and location details of religious sites and key locations with handlers across the border, police said on Thursday.
The accused, identified as Azeem Rana of Dhaulana and Azad Rajput of Meerut, were arrested by local police, who recovered two mobile phones from their possession.
Preliminary investigation revealed that Rana operated a dry fruits stall in Delhi, while Rajput worked as a contractor in Gurugram. Police said both were in contact with an ISI-backed network linked to Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti through social media platforms since December 2025.
During questioning, the duo allegedly admitted to sharing visuals and location details of a metro station area in west Delhi, a nearby temple and residential colonies, besides similar inputs about a temple in Greater Noida’s Bisrakh area.
Officials said the accused remained in regular contact with their handler via social media and messaging platforms, including WhatsApp, and had also conducted reconnaissance of a prominent temple in Delhi.
Police suspect the information was shared on instructions from across the border and could have been intended for planning a major attack targeting religious places.
The arrests followed inputs from central intelligence agencies, after which multiple agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau and Anti-Terrorism Squad, joined the probe. Efforts are underway to identify other network members and trace further links, officials added. (Agencies)
