Delhi Police arrest four men to foil alleged Pakistan-linked terror plot
The Delhi Police foiled an alleged cross-border terror plot targeting Delhi with the arrest of four men since April. The suspects, allegedly linked to Pakistan-based handler Shahzad Bhatti, were planning to open fire near VIP areas in Delhi, conduct reconnaissance of security establishments, and smuggle weapons and drugs using drones.
The coordinated operation was carried out across Delhi and Punjab by the Delhi Police Special Cell following intelligence inputs. During the operation, police recovered two foreign-made pistols, nine live cartridges, and five mobile phones.
According to investigators, Shahzad Bhatti, who is allegedly linked to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has been attempting to expand his network in India by radicalising and recruiting unemployed youth. The handlers arranged foreign phone numbers for the recruits to communicate without attracting the attention of Indian security agencies.
The first breakthrough came with the arrest of 23-year-old Shubdeep Singh, also known as Vishal, from Majitha Road in Amritsar, Punjab. Deputy Commissioner of Police Praveen Tripathi stated that police recovered a semi-automatic pistol, five live cartridges, and two mobile phones from his possession.
During questioning, Shubdeep allegedly admitted to being in regular contact with Pakistan-based handlers linked to the Bhatti network and receiving arms and narcotics dropped across the border using drones. He reportedly used foreign numbers provided by his handlers to remain in touch.
Acting on his disclosures, police arrested his associates, 22-year-old Gurjant Singh, also known as Rishi, and 28-year-old Sajan Singh, also known as Honey, from Punjab. Officers recovered a Zigana pistol, four live cartridges, and two mobile phones from the duo. Police alleged that both men were communicating with ISI handlers through foreign numbers.
Further investigation led to the arrest of 24-year-old Gaganpreet from Delhi on April 24. A mobile phone containing incriminating material was recovered from him. Police claimed his Pakistani handlers had tasked him with conducting reconnaissance of police stations, police pickets, and religious places in Delhi, and carrying out a firing incident in the city.
Police noted that Shubdeep and Sajan were previously arrested in separate Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances cases in Punjab.
