ISI-linked module busted in UP, rail sabotage and arson plot targeting infrastructure foiled

A suspected terror module with links to Pakistan-based handlers has been busted in Uttar Pradesh, with investigators uncovering a planned attack on railway infrastructure and multiple arson plots. Four accused have been arrested, including a key suspect from Meerut who was allegedly in direct contact with an ISI handler.

According to initial findings, the group was planning to target a railway signal box near Lucknow railway station. The objective was to set the system on fire, disrupt train operations and potentially trigger a major accident, raising fears of casualties and widespread panic.

Investigators have also traced a foreign funding trail, with money allegedly routed through the handler to the main accused and distributed among operatives. The group is believed to have conducted reconnaissance across cities such as Lucknow, Ghaziabad and Meerut, sharing photos and videos of key locations with their handler.

Apart from railway sabotage, the accused were allegedly planning arson attacks on vehicle showrooms and trucks carrying gas cylinders to cause economic damage and chaos. Authorities say the group was influenced through online radical propaganda, and further questioning is underway as agencies seek custody to probe the wider network.