Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 10 Apr: In a major development with serious security implications, a 29-year-old young man has been arrested in Dehradun for his alleged involvement in anti-national activities and links with Pakistan-based terrorists. The STF has alleged that the arrested youth had been sharing sensitive information and footage of key government and security installations with handlers across the border.
The accused, identified as Vikrant Kashyap, a resident of Jhajhra in the Premnagar area of Dehradun, was apprehended late last night during a joint operation carried out by the Special Task Force (STF) and Premnagar Police. He was found in possession of an illegal .32 bore pistol, seven live cartridges and a spray paint can. According to officials, Kashyap had been in continuous contact with Pakistan-based operative Shahzad Bhatti, associated with the proscribed outfit Al Bark Brigade, along with another associate identified as Rana, through social media platforms such as Instagram and WhatsApp.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), STF, Ajai Singh stated that intelligence inputs had been received regarding efforts by Pakistan-based terror networks to radicalise Indian youth through social media by first gaining followers and subsequently using them as sleeper cells for unlawful activities. Acting on these inputs, the STF had launched technical surveillance and was also gathering information through informants, which led to the identification of Kashyap as a suspect who was in touch with foreign handlers and was allegedly receiving instructions from them.
Investigations revealed that Kashyap had been residing in Dehradun for a considerable period and was employed at a car workshop. During interrogation, he disclosed that he had come into contact with Shahzad Bhatti after being influenced by social media posts relating to the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, of whom he was an ardent follower. Angered by the killing and seeking retribution, he began following Bhatti’s social media account, eventually establishing direct contact through messaging platforms.
The officials further claimed that after establishing contact, the accused had been assigned a series of tasks by his handlers, which included recording videos and capturing the locations of important places in and around Dehradun, including police stations and other sensitive establishments, and transmitting the footage to Pakistan. He was allegedly instructed to gather detailed visual information of prominent locations such as the ISBT, the police headquarters and other significant government buildings.
During interrogation, Kashyap reportedly revealed that he had also been directed to carry out acts intended to spread fear, including writing the name of the organisation Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan (TTH) on walls of key locations in the city using spray paint. Acting on these instructions, he is said to have inscribed “TTH” at several locations, including near a factory wall in the Selaqui area close to Subharti Hospital, near Advani Bridge, and in the vicinity of Balaji Temple in Jhajhra, and subsequently recorded videos of these acts to send to his handlers. He also shared the location and video footage of the Jhajhra police outpost.
The investigation has further revealed that the accused was allegedly given more serious assignments, including a plan to target people associated with an organisation in Delhi as well as a Supreme Court advocate using hand grenades. In return, he was reportedly promised financial rewards and an opportunity to be routed through Nepal and eventually settled in Dubai. Lured by these promises, he continued to carry out activities at the behest of his handlers until his arrest.
IG Police, STF, Nilesh Anand Bharne stated that the accused had also spent time in Nabha, Punjab, during 2024 and 2025, where he worked in truck body fabrication, and that his activities indicated involvement in anti-national operations. He added that crucial information have been recovered from the mobile phone seized from Kashyap, and further action is being undertaken in coordination with multiple agencies.
