UP Man Arrested by ATS for Links with ISI
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has apprehended a man in Lucknow for his alleged involvement with the Pakistan-based Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and passing on crucial information to handlers across the border.
The accused, identified as Mohd Raees (26), was previously employed as a food delivery boy in Mumbai before taking up a job in veneer polishing, where he was reportedly brainwashed. Raees returned to his hometown in Gonda a few months ago.
ATS Additional Director General of Police, Naveen Arora, stated, Based on surveillance and information provided by informers, we found the activities of Raees suspicious. As a result, we summoned him to the ATS headquarters in Lucknow, where he was arrested after a preliminary investigation.
Upon examining Raees’ mobile phone, officials discovered that he had shared photographs and videos of Babina cantonment in Jhansi with his handlers in Pakistan. He received two payments of Rs 15,000 each for his activities. An ATS team has been dispatched to Maharashtra to locate the individual who connected Raees with his Pakistani handlers.
Raees’ Journey: From Food Delivery Boy to Alleged ISI Operative
Raees revealed during questioning that he had moved to Mumbai five years ago to work as a food delivery boy. Later, he secured a job in veneer polishing at a seven-star hotel in the city, where he came into contact with a man named Armaan who allegedly brainwashed him.
An investigating officer shared that Raees had expressed his desire to secure employment in Saudi Arabia, following which Armaan provided him with a contact number, stating that the person on the other end could arrange a job for him in Dubai. In 2022, Raees received a call on WhatsApp from someone in Pakistan claiming to be named Hussain. Hussain informed Raees that he was a spy from Pakistan and promised him a substantial sum of money in exchange for assistance.
Hussain instructed Raees to gather photographs and information related to vital military installations. At the behest of a former ISI agent, Raees involved his friend, Salman, and others in the operation, the officer revealed. During the interrogation, Raees disclosed that he was asked to create a WhatsApp business account using a fake Bangladeshi mobile number. The Pakistani handlers provided Raees with a One-Time Password (OTP) for this purpose. ATS officials have informed the directorate of military intelligence about the recent developments.
The arrest of Mohd Raees serves as a reminder of the constant vigilance required to combat threats to national security. The ATS remains dedicated to maintaining the safety and integrity of the state and its citizens, and will continue to investigate all potential links to terrorist activities with utmost priority.
