‘Need Shooters With Guts’: UP ATS Busts Alleged ISI Recruitment Bid, Arrests Balrampur Youth

Balrampur: The UP ATS has arrested 29-year-old Shahroz Ahmed from Balrampur on charges of being linked to an ISI-backed terror network. The accused had come into contact with a Pakistani agent via social media. He was preparing to execute a terror plot after procuring weapons and explosives from Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan.

Online network and the ISI web
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad arrested 29-year-old Shahroz Ahmed, a resident of Jamdhara village under the Gasdi police station area of ​​Balrampur district. The accused had connected with Pakistani ISI agent Jasveer Chaudhary via Facebook in October 2025. He became involved in anti-national activities using encrypted apps such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Signal. This online network operated with the aim of executing terror plots in India and recruiting other youths.

Plot to procure weapons from Sri Ganganagar
The ISI agent had posted on Facebook looking for “shooters with courage and guts,” to which Shahroz responded. Subsequently, the accused was assigned the task of traveling to Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, to collect weapons and explosive materials. A sum of ₹5,000 was transferred to his account for this purpose. The accused, who had recently returned to his village from Mumbai, was fully prepared to leave for Sri Ganganagar but was apprehended by the ATS before he could depart.

Digital evidence and legal action
The ATS recovered electronic devices from the accused’s possession, yielding crucial digital evidence. He used the Signal app to evade surveillance. Interrogation also revealed a plot to recruit youths for terrorist activities. A case has been registered at the ATS police station in Lucknow under relevant sections of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita); the accused has been sent to jail, and legal proceedings are underway.