NIA begins raids to trace ISI’s UP link, finds crucial evidence

LUCKNOW: Teams of National Investigation Agency (NIA) have started searches at multiple locations in UP in connection with alleged ISI (Inter Services Intelligence) agent Mohammad Rashid Ahmed, 23, who was arrested in January this year.

A press release by NIA said the agency’s teams searched places linked to Rashid in Varanasi and Chandauli, on Sunday. During the searches, a mobile phone and some incriminating documents have been recovered and seized.

Ahmed, a resident of Chandauli district was arrested from Varanasi in a joint operation of military intelligence (MI) and Uttar Pradesh anti-terror squad (ATS). A case related to the arrest was lodged by ATS in Lucknow in January.

The Home Ministry in April this year, handed over the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) given the gravity of the charges. NIA had re-registered this under section 123 (concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war) of IPC and added sections UAPA (Unlawful Activist Prevention Act).

During the preliminary investigation, it was revealed that Rashid was in contact with handlers of Army and ISI handlers in Pakistan. Rashid had visited Pakistan twice in recent years, said an NIA official on condition of anonymity.

During his second visit, he was introduced to two ISI/Pakistani military intelligence personnel, who identified themselves as Ashim and Amad.

The two tasked Rashid with providing Indian phone numbers for their use on WhatsApp and photos/videos/information on the movement and deployment of Army units. He was also asked send similar information on sensitive places and protests and rallies in India.

According to sources, after he returned to India, Rashid provided a One Time Password (OTP) of two Indian mobile numbers to Ashim and Amad, enabling them to create two WhatsApp accounts on Indian numbers.

These WhatsApp accounts were later used by the Pakistani agencies to trap Indian defence personnel.

“He was also found transmitting photographs of some of the sensitive and strategically important installations in India and the movement of the Armed forces to suspected ISI handlers in Pakistan,” he added.

The list includes Kashi Vishwanath temple -- Air Force Selection Board, Gyanvapi Mosque, Sankat Mochan temple, Cantt railway station, Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi, Agra Fort, Naini Bridge and Ardh Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, CRPF camps in Chandauli and Amethi, Gorakhpur railway station, Renukoot Thermal Power Plant in Sonbhadra, India Gate in Delhi, Ajmeri Sharif in Rajasthan, Nagpur railway station in Maharashtra and others.

Sources said he received a gift packet containing a T-shirt in Pakistan’s national colours (green and white) in May 2019 and a payment of Rs 5,000 in July 2019 from Pakistani intelligence operatives Ashim and Amad.

Apart from the two men, he had also spoken to their boss in Pakistan once in October-November 2019, who asked him to acquire a shop near an Army installation in Jodhpur to monitor Army movements. He was assured a sum of Rs 1,00,000 and monthly rental of Rs 10,000-15,000 for the job, sources said. (WITH AGENCY INPUTS)

DURING THE SEARCHES, A MOBILE PHONE AND SOME INCRIMINATING DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN RECOVERED AND SEIZED.