UP man held for spying, linked to anti-national groups

An official statement says the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) received intelligence linking Tufail, son of Maqsood Alam and a resident of Varanasi, to a WhatsApp group run by Pakistan-backed anti-national organizations targeting India’s sovereignty, unity, and integrity.

Tufail is a resident of Doshipura, Jaitpura, District in Varanasi.

Reports also said the individual shared important internal security-related information with Pakistani phone numbers.

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Details of Communication and Shared Content

According to the release, upon developing this intelligence, the ATS field unit in Varanasi confirmed that the accused, Tufail, was in contact with multiple individuals in Pakistan. Tufail was sharing videos of Maulana Shad Rizvi, a leader of the terrorist organisation Tehreek-e-Labbaik in Pakistan, on WhatsApp groups. He was also sharing messages calling for “Ghazwa-e-Hind,” avenging the Babri Masjid incident, and implementing Sharia law in India.

Tufail had shared images and information related to several key Indian locations, including Rajghat, Namoghat, Gyanvapi, the railway station, Jama Masjid, Red Fort, and Nizamuddin Auliya, with Pakistani numbers.

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He also circulated the link to these Pakistan-run groups among many other people in Varanasi. Tufail was reportedly in contact with over 600 Pakistani numbers.

He also contacted a woman named Nafeesa, a resident of Faisalabad, Pakistan, on Facebook; her husband reportedly serves in the Pakistani army.

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Arrest and Legal Proceedings

On May 22, 2025, the ATS arrested Tufail from Adampur, Varanasi under FIR No. 05/25, Sections 148/152 of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) at ATS Police Station, Lucknow. Authorities will present the accused before the Honourable Court following legal procedures for further judicial action.

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His mobile phone and SIM cards were also seized.