Overview
- Ghaziabad police, which invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on Thursday, said the law allows tougher bail and up to 180 days to file a chargesheet.
- Authorities count 21 arrests across the National Capital Region, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, including six juveniles and one woman tied to the alleged network.
- Investigators say recruits sent photos, videos and GPS locations of security sites through Instagram and other apps, and two minors installed solar CCTV near Delhi Cantonment and Sonipat stations for live surveillance.
- Police describe targeted recruitment of less-educated, low-income youth through Instagram messages, cash payouts of about Rs 5,000 per task, and promises of promotion to handler roles, with funds allegedly routed from Pakistan via Punjab shopkeepers.
- The probe now includes NIA questioning of suspects and tracing of cross-border handlers and money flows, while parallel cases reported by ThePrint and state police show similar online cells and tech tactics spreading beyond this case.