Pakistan Handler Allegedly Recruited Punjab Youths for Targeted Killing in Lucknow
Police recovered a foreign-made pistol and 20 cartridges as investigators traced the alleged plot to a banned network and a Pakistani handler.
- On Friday, October 30, 2026, The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested three men in Lucknow for allegedly plotting to kill police or Army personnel under instructions from a Pakistani handler identified as Rana Bhai.
- Investigators allege the men communicated with Rana Bhai through Instagram and WhatsApp to coordinate the attack, with suspects reportedly promised Rs 3 lakh for executing the killing.
- Authorities recovered a foreign-made pistol and 20 cartridges during the operation; Gagandeep Singh, one of the accused, previously faced an Arms Act case in Punjab.
- To evade capture, the group reportedly planned to flee to Nepal after the attack, while ADG Amitabh Yash stated the agency is seeking police custody remand for detailed interrogation.
- Investigators are now tracing the wider arms supply network and local facilitators, building on the case after the ATS apprehended Shahzad Bhatti last year for alleged spying for Pakistan.
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Pakistan handler allegedly recruited Punjab youths for targeted killing in Lucknow
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested three youths belonging to Punjab and taken a juvenile into custody for allegedly conspiring with a Pakistan-based handler of the banned Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) to carry out a targeted killing of a police or Army personnel in Lucknow, Additional director general of police (law and order) Amitabh Yash said on Friday
UP ATS foils Shahzad Bhatti network's plot to target police, Army personnel in Lucknow; 3 arrested
UP ATS has arrested three alleged members of the Shahzad Bhatti network in Lucknow over a suspected plot to target police or Army personnel. A foreign-made pistol and 20 cartridges were recovered, while investigators probe links to a Pakistani handler.
UP ATS arrests 4 linked to Pakistan-based handler over plan to target police, Army personnel; recovers pistol, 20 cartridges
Four people, including a minor, were arrested in Lucknow for planning an attack on police or Army personnel. They connected with a Pakistani handler named Rana Bhai, who instructed them on their mission. After traveling from Amritsar, they arrived in Lucknow with a pistol and ammunition. The arrested individuals recorded a video of the railway station and shared it with their handler.
The Uttar Pradesh ATS has arrested four suspects from Lucknow, including a minor, linked to the Pakistan-based Shahzad Bhatti network. They were tasked with killing an army man or police officer in Lucknow and filming the incident. A pistol and 20 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the suspects. Their mobile phones also contained videos and locations of reconnaissance of sensitive locations.
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has uncovered a major terrorist plot in Lucknow. Three suspects linked to the banned Shahzad Bhatti network have been arrested, and a minor has been taken into police custody. These shooters were planning to assassinate a security guard in Lucknow at the behest of a Pakistani handler, "Rana Bhai." Their goal was to film the incident and send it to Pakistan. Additional Director General of Police (Law a…
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