UP ATS arrests four Punjab men over alleged Pakistan-backed plot to target Army, police personnel

Millat Times Desk

31 October 2026 (Publish: 08:28 AM IST)

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The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested four people, including a minor on Friday, in Lucknow over an alleged conspiracy to target police or Army personnel on the instructions of a Pakistan-based handler linked to the banned Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN).

The arrests were made on October 30. The ATS recovered a foreign-made pistol and 20 cartridges from the accused, according to officials.

The accused have been identified as Gagandeep Singh (26), Rajat Kumar (19) and Krish (21), all residents of Punjab. The fourth person is a minor, also from Punjab.

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash said the ATS received intelligence inputs suggesting that some youths from Punjab, allegedly associated with the banned network, were planning an attack on a police or military establishment in India.

According to investigators, Gagandeep Singh and his associates were in contact with a Pakistan-based handler identified as Rana Bhai, who allegedly instructed them to carry out a targeted killing in Lucknow.

During interrogation, the accused reportedly told investigators that they had been assigned to kill an Army or police personnel and record the incident on video before sending it to their handler.

The group allegedly left Amritsar on October 27, travelled through Delhi and reached Lucknow around midnight on October 29. They reportedly communicated with the handler through Instagram and WhatsApp.

The ATS said the handler transferred ₹2,585 to cover their travel expenses and later sent another ₹2,500 in two instalments for accommodation and other expenses. The accused were allegedly promised ₹3 lakh after carrying out the planned killing.

Investigators further claimed that the handler told them weapons and ammunition had been sent from Pakistan and would be provided by a local associate in Lucknow. The accused allegedly received the pistol and cartridges from this associate after reaching the city.

The handler had also instructed them to travel to Nepal after the attack to evade arrest, officials said.

According to the ATS, the accused had recorded a video of Lucknow railway station and shared it with the handler. A preliminary examination of their mobile phones reportedly revealed suspicious conversations, videos and WhatsApp accounts activated through virtual numbers linked to foreign numbers.

Investigators also claimed to have recovered digital material suggesting that the accused had conducted reconnaissance of sensitive establishments, collected their locations and shared the information with their handler.

An FIR has been registered at the Lucknow ATS police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Arms Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The ATS is investigating the alleged financial transactions, local facilitators, weapon suppliers and other possible associates. Officials said further legal proceedings would follow.