Rampur (Uttar Pradesh), May 18 – In a significant crackdown on national security threats, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on Sunday arrested a man identified as Shahzad, a resident of Tanda, for allegedly working as an agent of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
According to a statement from the STF, Shahzad was apprehended by its Moradabad unit based on intelligence inputs indicating his involvement in cross-border smuggling and espionage. The agency revealed that Shahzad had made multiple visits to Pakistan over the years, allegedly using these trips to facilitate the smuggling of goods such as cosmetics, clothing, and spices.
More gravely, Shahzad is accused of transmitting sensitive information related to national security to his ISI handlers. The STF has invoked multiple charges against him, including provisions related to espionage, at the STF Police Station in Lucknow.
The arrest highlights ongoing concerns around cross-border infiltration and the use of civilian operatives for intelligence gathering by hostile entities. Authorities have initiated further investigation to trace Shahzad’s network and the extent of information potentially compromised.
