PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Dehradun
The arrest of four alleged ISI-backed sleeper cell members, linked to Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti, from Saharanpur district by Anti- Terrorist Squad and Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force has raised serious concerns in Uttarakhand too in view of the fact that two of the accused had earlier worked in Dehradun and Haridwar. Furthermore, the State is considered strategically important as it is home to the Indian Military Academy, Tehri Dam, Char Dham pilgrimage sites and several other sensitive locations that could be potential terrorist targets.
The arrested accused have been identified as Mehkab, a resident of Saharanpur; Gagandeep alias Guri Singh, a resident of Muzaffarnagar; Shahrukh, a resident of Saharanpur and Musarrif, a resident of Haridwar. Shahrukh had worked as a welder in Dehradun.
This is not the first such case linked to Uttarakhand. In April this year, Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) and Dehradun police had arrested an alleged sleeper cell operative identified as Vikrant Kashyap from Premnagar area. During the investigation, police had found that he had been in contact with Pakistan- based gangster Shahzad Bhatti and his associates as well as the terror organisation Tehrik-e-Taliban Hindustan which has been trying to spread wings in India. The officials had recovered a .32 pistol, seven cartridges and spray paint from his possession. Investigators had also found that he had allegedly made videos of important government buildings and police headquarters in Dehradun.
The Dehradun senior superintendent of police (SSP), Pramendra Dobal said that intelligence agencies are continuously working on such cases, adding that Dehradun police are also monitoring at its own level and keeping a close watch on suspicious individuals and activities.
Police sources further informed that the recently arrested accused were living like ordinary workers, employed as welders and drivers in different areas. Police investigations revealed that they had come in contact with the gangster through social media platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp around six months ago.
Among the arrested accused, two are residents of Tikka Kalan village in Sarsawa area in Saharanpur district. Their families are said to be financially weak and both used to travel to states like Haryana, Punjab and Uttarakhand for welding work. The third accused is from Haridwar who also worked as a welder, while the fourth one from Muzaffarnagar was employed as a truck driver.
The officials said that the accused had expanded their network across Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Uttarakhand.
The case has once again raised concerns about suspicious elements using Saharanpur as a hideout, admitted the ATS officers, adding that they are continuing the investigation to find more details about the network and its possible links to criminal and terror-related activities.
