On Thursday, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) and Dhaulana police arrested two individuals, Azeem Rana and Azad Rajput, on charges of being involved in anti-national activities. The investigation revealed that both suspects had been in contact with Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti since December 2025, primarily communicating through social media. They were reportedly sharing sensitive information and had conducted surveillance of key locations in Delhi and Noida, specifically around religious sites.

The police interrogation uncovered that Azeem operated a dry fruits shop in a mall in Delhi, while Azad was a contractor at a pipe factory in Gurugram. They revealed to the authorities that they had compiled videos, photos, and locations of various landmarks, including the Ramesh Nagar Metro Station and the Ravan temple in the Bisrakh region of Noida. This data was allegedly being transmitted back to Bhatti with intentions linked to a potential terrorist act.

The police investigation indicated that the suspects maintained regular communication with a Pakistani handler through platforms such as Instagram and WhatsApp, further intensifying the concerns regarding the plot that involved not only religious sites but also residential areas. Shahzad Bhatti allegedly provided them with intel specific to the Noida Ravan temple's location and videos, indicating a level of cross-border coordination aimed at orchestrating a significant attack within India. The authorities are now pursuing further leads to determine the extent of this networks’ reach and any imminent threats that may arise from their activities.