LUCKNOW/MEERUT, Apr 5: The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has busted a Pakistan-linked terror module operating out of Meerut and surrounding areas, using Hindu recruits with coded identities to evade detection and carry out reconnaissance at sensitive sites, officials said.
The module, led by 25-year-old Saqib alias “Devil” of Meerut, was in direct contact with handlers based in Pakistan and coordinated through social media platforms such as Telegram, Signal, and Instagram. Investigators revealed that Saqib was instructed to avoid capture and complete missions aligned with extremist goals, including the so-called “Ghazwa-e-Hind.”
To bypass security scrutiny, the module recruited young Hindu men. Lokesh alias “Salim” and Vikas alias “Zahid” from Gautam Buddh Nagar were allegedly lured with money and radical messaging, with Lokesh used extensively for reconnaissance in areas where his Hindu identity allowed easier access, including religious sites.
Investigators also identified a Dubai-based facilitator, Aaqib, who allegedly coordinated between Saqib and his Pakistan-based handlers. The network used online platforms to recruit, radicalize, and motivate members, sharing content featuring weapons and extremist propaganda to normalize violence and attract recruits.
The ATS said the group conducted detailed surveillance of multiple defence installations, railway infrastructure, cantonment areas, and movements of prominent religious and Hindutva leaders. Google location pins provided by handlers were used by the accused to film and transmit videos of these sites. Payments were reportedly made to the recruits in return for reconnaissance work.
The crackdown came after intelligence inputs flagged a planned attack near Lucknow railway station, involving arson and possible explosives targeting signal infrastructure. Acting on a tip-off, ATS teams arrested Saqib, Arbaab (20) from Meerut, and Vikas (27) and Lokesh (19) from Gautam Buddh Nagar on April 2, 2026, before the plan could be executed.
During searches, officials recovered inflammable material, seven mobile phones, 24 pamphlets, and identity documents. Detailed forensic analysis is underway to map the wider network and funding channels.
ATS officials noted that such Pakistan-linked modules have been increasingly active in Uttar Pradesh in recent months. Previous arrests included individuals like Harish Ali from Saharanpur, accused of promoting ISIS ideology, and another ISI-backed group planning attacks on key locations, including railway infrastructure, using social media and encrypted apps to coordinate.
The Uttar Pradesh government emphasized that preliminary investigations suggest the module was actively working to undermine India’s sovereignty and integrity by carrying out coordinated acts of sabotage and spreading terror. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
Officials said the interrogation of the arrested individuals is ongoing to identify additional links, sleeper cells, and handlers operating both within India and abroad.
This operation highlights the increasing sophistication of terror networks leveraging local recruits, social media, and coded identities to plan attacks while avoiding detection, according to ATS authorities. (Agencies)
