Rampur, Uttar Pradesh: Amid growing national security concerns, Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force (STF), on Sunday, May 19, arrested a businessman from Rampur for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and facilitating cross-border smuggling. The arrest comes just days after a Haryana-based YouTuber was held on similar charges.
The accused, identified as Shahzad, was taken into custody from Moradabad following actionable intelligence about his suspected involvement in espionage and illicit trade. According to an official statement by the STF, Shahzad had allegedly visited Pakistan multiple times over the years under the pretext of business. However, these trips were reportedly used to establish and maintain links with ISI handlers.
What Did the Investigation Reveal?
Authorities said that Shahzad was instrumental in smuggling commodities such as cosmetics, garments, and spices across the border. These activities were allegedly a cover for covert operations. He is also accused of passing on sensitive national security information to Pakistani agents. “Shahzad was found to be providing money and Indian SIM cards to ISI-linked operatives in India,” the STF's findings revealed.
Recruitment, Travel Facilitation Also Under Probe
In a more alarming revelation, investigators found that Shahzad allegedly facilitated travel for other individuals from Uttar Pradesh to Pakistan, as well. The STF stated that ISI agents had arranged visas for these individuals, who were then believed to have been recruited for intelligence-gathering roles.
This comes after the arrest of Jyoti Malhotra, a Haryana-based YouTuber who reportedly maintained contact with a staff member at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. She had shared several videos from her visit to Pakistan on her YouTube channel ‘Travel with JO’, raising red flags among intelligence agencies.
These arrests occur in the backdrop of heightened India-Pakistan tensions following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives.
