Uttarakhand STF Arrests Man For Alleged Links With Pakistani Terror Module

Dehradun: Just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, a suspected terrorist has been arrested in Dehradun. In a joint operation, the Special Task Force (STF) and Dehradun Police arrested Vikrant Kashyap from Jhajhra. Vikrant was associated with Pakistani ISI agent Shahzad Bhatti. He had sent photos and videos of several strategically important locations to Pakistan from here.

When was Vikrant arrested?

As part of the mission to keep Uttarakhand crime-free, Operation Prahar is being conducted on the instructions of Director General of Police (DGP) Deepam Seth.

In this context, late on April 9, the Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) team arrested a suspect, Vikrant Kashyap (29), son of Virendra Kashyap, resident of Jhajhra Premnagar, Dehradun district, in the Premnagar police station area of ​​Dehradun.

One illegal .32 bore pistol, seven live cartridges, and one spray paint can were recovered from the arrested suspect. The arrested suspect was in constant contact with terrorist Shahzad Bhatti and his associate Rana, based in Pakistan, via Instagram and WhatsApp.

What did police say?

After arresting Vikrant, Uttarakhand STF's IG Nilesh Anand Bharne said that "Police arrested an individual named Vikrant who was involved in suspicious activities...Laptops and mobile phones have been recovered from him...We recovered photos and videos which he used to send to Shahzad Bhatti, associated with Tehreek-e-Taliban...Weapons have also been recovered from his possession..."

Bharne also said that he was in contact with terrorist Shahzad Bhatti, associated with Pakistan-based terrorist organization Al Badr Brigade, and was continuously communicating through social media platforms Instagram and WhatsApp.

Senior Superintendent of Police, STF, Ajay Singh, stated that inputs regarding anti-national elements were being developed and the activities of the suspects were being continuously monitored. Under which, inputs were received regarding terrorist organizations from Pakistan making followers of Indian youth through Instagram and various social media and making them do illegal activities as sleeper cells in order to spread terror in India and endanger the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.

Is accused a fan of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala?

During interrogation, the arrested accused told that he was a fan of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, stating that he was angry with his murder and wanted to take revenge from those who killed him. Meanwhile, Pakistani Shahzad Bhatti had posted reels and posts on Instagram regarding taking revenge from those who killed Sidhu Moosewala, which influenced him.

How was accused in contact?

The accused started following Shahzad Bhatti's Instagram account. A few days later, he came into contact with him via WhatsApp and Instagram. Shahzad Bhatti assigned him tasks, including videotaping key locations and police stations in and around Dehradun. He was then asked to submit videos and footage of important buildings and institutions in Dehradun, such as the ISBT, the police headquarters, and other important government buildings.

What task was given to Vikrant?

During interrogation, Vikrant said that "I was told that I had to bomb this place. A man named Gujjar would provide me with bombs, weapons, and money. Shahzad Bhatti then tasked me with writing 'Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan' (TTH) on important buildings and institutions in Dehradun, such as the ISBT, the police headquarters, and other important government buildings, to create the name 'TTH' and spread terror among the people. I was asked to make a video and send it."

TTH written on walls to spread terror in Dehradun?

The arrested suspect had made a video of writing "TTH" with a spray paint can on the wall of a factory in Selaqui, in the lane near Subharti Hospital, and at various places near Advani Bridge and near Balaji Temple Jhajhra.

He had also sent the location and video footage of Police Outpost Jhajhra to Pakistan. Apart from this, he was given the task by his Pakistani handler to throw a head grenade at the workers of a Delhi-based organisation and a Supreme Court advocate.

Were Vikrant use to work?

In exchange for all the tasks, he was lured with the promise of being taken to Dubai via Nepal, where he could settle there, and was offered good money. The arrested accused lived in Nabha, Punjab, in 2024 and 2025, where he was engaged in truck body manufacturing.