Dehradun, Uttarakhand: The Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a 29-year-old man for allegedly working with a Pakistan-based terrorist and sharing sensitive information about key installations in the city.
🚨 Arrest and Seizures
The accused, identified as Vikrant Kashyap, was arrested in the early hours of Friday.
According to STF officials, the following items were recovered from his possession:
- A .32 bore pistol
- Seven live cartridges
- A spray paint can
The spray paint was allegedly used to write “TTH” (Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan) on walls of multiple buildings.
🌐 Pakistan Link and Terror Network
Investigations revealed that Kashyap was in contact with Shahzad Bhatti, associated with the Al Barq Brigade.
He was allegedly communicating via social media platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp and was tasked with:
- Filming key government and military locations
- Recording videos of police stations and infrastructure
- Sharing sensitive footage with handlers in Pakistan
Officials said these locations were being identified as potential targets for future attacks.
🎯 Planned Attacks and Tasks
The STF claimed that Kashyap was instructed to:
- Film important sites such as ISBT, police headquarters, and government buildings
- Share visuals of the Jhajhra police outpost
- Spread fear by writing “TTH” graffiti across locations
He was also allegedly assigned to carry out grenade attacks in Delhi, including targeting individuals and public places.
💰 Motive and Radicalisation
During interrogation, Kashyap reportedly revealed that he was influenced by online content linked to revenge narratives following the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala.
He later came into direct contact with Bhatti and was allegedly promised money and relocation to Dubai via Nepal.
🔗 Wider Terror Links
STF sources indicated that Bhatti has been linked to previous criminal and terror activities, including grenade attacks in Punjab and illegal arms networks operating across multiple countries.
The case is also being examined for possible links with organised terror modules that recruit individuals online and use them for local operations.
🧩 Conclusion
The arrest has raised serious concerns over the use of social media for radicalisation and recruitment into terror networks. Authorities are continuing their investigation to uncover the full extent of the network and potential threats.
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