Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI allegedly planned attacks targeting a historic temple in Delhi, a famous dhaba along the Delhi-Sonipat highway and an army camp in Haryana using operatives linked to the Shahzad Bhatti module, sources told PTI on Friday.
PTI, citing sources, said the revelations came during the interrogation of nine alleged operatives of the module arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police as part of their ‘Gang Bust Operation 2.0’ from several states.
Here’s what investigators found
Investigators found that one of the accused had scouted the historic temple in Delhi and sent photographs of the premises to Pakistani handlers through social media platforms, a source told PTI.
“The module allegedly planned to target police personnel and paramilitary forces deployed in the temple and open fire to create panic and disruption,” he said.
The source also added that the accused were also tasked with carrying out a grenade attack on a popular ‘dhaba’ on the Delhi-Sonipat highway, frequented by thousands of people daily, with the intention of causing large-scale damage and loss of life.
“An army camp in Hisar was also reportedly scouted and videos from the area were shared with handlers across the border. Some police stations in Uttar Pradesh were also on the target list,” a source told PTI.
Earlier on Thursday, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) busted a terror plot and arrested two suspects linked to a Pakistani network, ANI reported.
Officials said Daniyal Ashraf was arrested from Barabanki and Krishna Mishra from Gorakhpur and found to be linked to Inter-Services Intelligence and Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti.
Officials said social media was used to build sleeper cells and targets included sensitive institutions and police facilities.
On April 24, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested two gangsters operating under the influence of Pakistani handlers and the ISI.
The suspects, identified as 20-year-old Tushar Chauhan alias Hezbollah Ali Khan and Samir Khan, were caught with a pistol, live ammunition and a knife.
The action followed information that these gangsters, acting on the instructions of the ISI, were trying to threaten India’s internal security. According to the ATS, they collaborated with terrorist organizations and gangsters to incite the youth through Instagram and various social media platforms.
(With input from agencies)
