UP ATS arrests 3 linked to Pakistan's Shehzad Bhatti Network in Lucknow killing plot
Synopsis
The UP ATS has busted an alleged Pakistan-directed plot to kill Indian security personnel in Lucknow — recruiting Punjab youth through Instagram and WhatsApp, promising ₹3 lakh and a Nepal escape route. The accused, linked to the banned Shehzad Bhatti Network, were carrying a foreign-made pistol when arrested, pointing to an active local weapons supply chain.
Key Takeaways
The UP ATS arrested three individuals and detained a juvenile in Lucknow on 30 October 2026 for an alleged plot to kill police or military personnel.
The accused — Gagandeep Singh, 26 (Amritsar) , Rajat Kumar, 19 , and Krish, 21 (Gurdaspur) — were allegedly operating on instructions from Pakistani handler 'Rana Bhai' of the banned Shehzad Bhatti Network (SBN) .
A foreign-made pistol and 20 cartridges were recovered; the accused were allegedly promised ₹3 lakh and a Nepal escape route upon completing the assignment.
The accused communicated with the handler via Instagram and WhatsApp using virtual numbers; their phones contained reconnaissance data on sensitive installations.
A case has been registered under UAPA Sections 18 and 38 , BNS Sections 152 and 61(2) , and the Arms Act at ATS Police Station Lucknow ( Case No.
The ATS is now probing local collaborators , the weapon supply network , and financial transactions linked to the case.
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Friday, 30 October 2026, arrested three individuals and detained a juvenile in Lucknow for allegedly plotting targeted killings of police or military personnel on the instructions of a Pakistani handler linked to the banned Shehzad Bhatti Network (SBN). Investigators recovered a foreign-made pistol and 20 foreign-made cartridges from the accused, officials said.
Who Was Arrested
The arrested individuals have been identified as Gagandeep Singh, 26, of Amritsar, Rajat Kumar, 19, and Krish, 21, both of Gurdaspur, Punjab. A juvenile has also been placed under police supervision. According to investigators, it was gangster Gagandeep Singh and his associates who were in active contact with the Pakistani handler, referred to as 'Rana Bhai'.
The Alleged Plot: Instructions from Across the Border
Preliminary interrogation revealed that the accused left Amritsar on 27 October, travelled via Delhi, and reached Lucknow around midnight on 29 October. They were allegedly directed by Rana Bhai to kill a police or military personnel and send a video recording of the act back to the handler. Upon arrival, the accused reportedly filmed Lucknow Railway Station and shared the footage with their handler as instructed.
The accused were allegedly provided a pistol and cartridges through a local contact in Lucknow — an indication that a ground-level supply network may be active. The handler reportedly transferred ₹2,500 each on two occasions to cover their expenses, with a promised reward of ₹3 lakh upon completing the assignment. They were allegedly also told they would be helped to escape to Nepal after the operation.
Digital Trail and Intelligence Inputs
ATS investigators found WhatsApp accounts operated through virtual numbers, communication with foreign numbers, suspicious chats, videos, and information related to reconnaissance of sensitive installations on the accused's mobile phones. Investigators believe these locations were shared with the Pakistani handler. The accused also maintained contact with Rana Bhai through Instagram and WhatsApp.
According to ADG (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash, intelligence inputs had indicated that members of the banned Shehzad Bhatti Network were using youths from Punjab to carry out terrorist activities in India and target army and police establishments. This arrest appears to confirm that pattern.
Legal Action and Ongoing Investigation
A case has been registered at the ATS Police Station, Lucknow under Case No. 16/2026, invoking Sections 152 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, Sections 3/25 of the Arms Act, and Sections 18 and 38 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Authorities are expected to seek custody remand of the accused for further interrogation.
The ATS is now widening its probe to identify other individuals linked to the conspiracy, trace local collaborators, map the weapon supply network, and investigate financial transactions connected to the case. The arrest marks the second major ATS operation in Uttar Pradesh in recent months targeting Pakistan-linked networks reportedly using Punjab-based youth as operatives inside India.
Point of View
Expendable operatives, using consumer platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram as covert command channels. The ₹3 lakh payment promise, the Nepal escape route, and the use of a local weapons supplier all suggest an organised logistics chain that predates these three arrests. The ATS's own intelligence inputs, as cited by ADG Amitabh Yash, confirm this is a known and continuing threat vector, not a surprise. The harder question is how a foreign-made pistol reached the accused through a local contact in Lucknow — that supply line, if left intact, is the real story.
NationPress
30 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the alleged plot foiled by the UP ATS in Lucknow?
The UP ATS foiled an alleged plot to kill a police or military personnel in Lucknow, directed by a Pakistani handler known as 'Rana Bhai' of the banned Shehzad Bhatti Network. Three men from Punjab were arrested with a foreign-made pistol and 20 cartridges on 30 October 2026.
Who are the Shehzad Bhatti Network and why are they banned?
The Shehzad Bhatti Network (SBN) is a Pakistan-based outfit that has been banned in India for allegedly orchestrating terrorist activities, including targeting army and police establishments. According to UP ATS officials, the network has been using Punjab-based youth to carry out operations inside India.
How were the accused recruited and what were they promised?
The accused were allegedly contacted by Pakistani handler 'Rana Bhai' through Instagram and WhatsApp, operating via virtual numbers. They were promised ₹3 lakh upon completing the assignment and were told they would be helped to escape to Nepal afterwards.
What charges have been filed against the arrested individuals?
A case (No. 16/2026) has been registered at ATS Police Station, Lucknow under Sections 152 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Sections 3/25 of the Arms Act, and Sections 18 and 38 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Police are expected to seek custody remand for further interrogation.
What is the ATS investigating next in this case?
The ATS is probing other individuals linked to the conspiracy, identifying local collaborators who allegedly supplied the weapon, mapping the broader arms supply network, and tracing financial transactions connected to the case. The digital trail — including virtual-number WhatsApp accounts and reconnaissance videos — is a key focus of the ongoing investigation.
