Lucknow, October 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested three people and taken a juvenile into custody for their alleged involvement in a plot to carry out targeted killings of police or military personnel in Lucknow, officials said on Friday.
The accused are allegedly linked to Pakistan-based Shehzad Bhatti Network (SBN), which has been banned. The ATS recovered a foreign-made pistol and 20 foreign-made cartridges during the operation.
According to ADG (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash, intelligence inputs suggested that members of the network were recruiting young people from Punjab to carry out terrorist activities in India and target police and military establishments.
Preliminary interrogation indicated that the accused had travelled to Lucknow on the instructions of a Pakistani handler identified as ‘Rana Bhai’. They were allegedly promised ₹3 lakh to kill a police or military official, record the act and send the video to the handler.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Gagandeep Singh, 26, from Amritsar, and Rajat Kumar, 19, and Krish, 21, from Gurdaspur. A juvenile was also taken into custody.
Investigators said the group left Amritsar on October 27, travelled through Delhi and reached Lucknow around midnight on October 29. They allegedly communicated with the handler through Instagram and WhatsApp and sent him a video of Lucknow Railway Station after arriving in the city.
The ATS said the accused were subsequently provided with a pistol and ammunition through a local contact. The handler allegedly transferred ₹2,500 to each of them on two occasions for expenses and promised assistance in escaping to Nepal after the operation.
Examination of their mobile phones reportedly revealed suspicious chats, videos, virtual-number-based WhatsApp accounts and material relating to reconnaissance of sensitive installations. Investigators suspect that information about these locations was shared with the Pakistani handler.
A case has been registered at the Lucknow ATS police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Arms Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The ATS is investigating the alleged local support network, weapon supply chain, financial transactions and other people suspected of being linked to the conspiracy. Police are expected to seek custody remand for further questioning.
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