Man with links to Pak terrorists caught for sending details of important institutions in Doon

PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun

The Special Task Force (STF) and district police arrested a man accused of sending footage and location of important governmental and security institutions in Dehradun from the Premnagar area late on Thursday night.

According to the STF senior superintendent of police Ajai Singh, inputs on seasoned criminals, anti-nationals and other such elements were being developed for some time. Late on Thursday night, the STF team arrested Jhajhra, Premnagar resident Vikrant Kashyap (29) with one illegal pistol, bullets and a can of spray paint. During questioning, he said that he was in regular contact with terrorist Shahzad Bhatti and his accomplice Rana in Pakistani through Instagram and WhatsApp. Singh said that inputs had been received about Pakistani terror organisations influencing youths through social media to develop them into sleeper cells for various illegal activities.

The accused said during questioning that he was a fan of Siddhu Musewawla and was unhappy with his killing and wanted revenge. Bhatti posted an Instagram reel on avending Musewala’s killing after which Kashyap started following the account. The two came into contact through social media some days later. He was first told to send videos of major locations and police stations in and around Dehradun. He was then told to send videos of ISBT, Police Headquarters and other important government buildings, while also being told that he had to set up explosions in these locations. The bombs, weapons and money for this would be provided by a person named Gurjar. Bhatti then told him to write Tehrik-e-Taliban-Hindustan (TTH) on important government buildings in Doon to spread fear. In return for all these tasks, he was promised to be taken to Dubai via Nepal, where he could settle with good money.