The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Thursday apprehended a man from Varanasi on charges of spying and sharing sensitive information about India’s internal security with Pakistani contacts.
In a press release, UP ATS said they received intelligence that the man identified as Tufail, a resident of Doshipur, Police Station Jaitpura, had joined a WhatsApp group and was working with the intention of forming an anti-national organisation sponsored by Pakistan to harm the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.
“Further intelligence indicated that this individual was sharing sensitive information related to India’s internal security with Pakistani phone numbers,” the press release said.
Tufail is accused of circulating videos of Maulana Shah Rizvi, the head of Pakistan’s banned terror outfit Tehreek-e-Labbaik, in WhatsApp groups, along with provocative messages promoting ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind,’ seeking revenge for the Babri Masjid incident, and advocating for the imposition of Sharia law in India, the Uttar Pradesh ATS said in a statement.
Tufail’s Contact With More Than 600 Pakistani Numbers
According to officials, the investigation revealed that Tufail had reportedly shared images of sensitive sites, including Rajghat, Namo Ghat, Gyanvapi, the railway station, and the Red Fort, with individuals based in Pakistan.
The statement further noted that Tufail is also suspected of distributing WhatsApp group links in Varanasi to connect local users with Pakistani operatives. He had sent the links of these Pakistan-operated groups to several others in Varanasi and was in contact with more than 600 Pakistani numbers.
Tufail was also in contact, via Facebook, with a woman named Nafisa from Faisalabad, Pakistan, whose husband serves in the Pakistani army. Meanwhile, the Mobile phone and SIM card were also recovered from the accused.
The Uttar Pradesh Police’s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Sunday also arrested a man accused of spying for Pakistan’s intelligence agency and smuggling goods across the border.
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