UP ATS arrests suspected ISI agent from Faizabad

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad  (ATS) on Wednesday claimed to have smashed an espionage racket by arresting a suspected ISI agent from Faizabad and his accomplice from Mumbai.

The man, Aftab Ali, is believed to have received training from Pakistan's spy agency and is said to have been in touch with officials in the Pakistan High Commission.

The arrest was made in a joint operation conducted by the UP ATS, military intelligence and UP intelligence.

Ali was picked up from Faizabad, 120 km from here, this evening, IG ATS Aseem Arun said, as per PTI.

The ATS is reportedly in possession of strong evidence against him.

Pictures of the cantonment area have been recovered from his mobile phone and more clues are likely to be found through his mobile chats, he said.

Aftab was also allegedly keeping a close vigil on the movement of troops in the area, especially between Faizabad and Lucknow, besides deployment of battalions, an ATS release said.

ADG (Law and Order) Aditya Misra said more information about the ISI network will be known through the mobile phone of the accused and more arrests are likely.

ATS sources said Aftab had gathered information on several army cantonment areas and defence establishments in the state.

Aftab, son of Wajid Ali, is a resident of Khwaspura area of Faizabad, he said.

In another statement late night, Arun said the UP ATS in a joint operation with its Maharashtra counterpart arrested Aftab's accomplice Altaf Qureishi from Mumbai.

Altaf was involved in Hawala transactions and had allegedly transferred money to the account of Aftab on the direction of ISI, the ATS said.

(With Agency inputs)