Kanpur: The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Saturday detained Bakar Khan and his sister Uruj Fatima in Kanpur and questioned them over suspected activities and links to Pakistan, according to sources.

The latest detentions are part of an ongoing investigation into a suspected network with alleged Pakistan links. Sources said the UP ATS and other agencies are examining the activities and possible connections of the two individuals as part of the wider probe.

Earlier, Mohammad Sameer and Salman were detained in Karnataka and are also being investigated over their alleged links to Pakistan and ISIS. With the latest detentions in Kanpur, the number of suspects reportedly linked to Pakistan has risen to four.

Security agencies are investigating the possible connections between the suspects and examining whether they are part of a larger network.

UP ATS probes alleged ISI links

The latest action comes amid a series of investigations by the UP ATS into suspected Pakistan-linked activities.

Last month, the agency arrested 29-year-old Shahrez Ahmad from Balrampur district on suspicion of working as an agent of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Balrampur Superintendent of Police Vikas Kumar confirmed Ahmad’s arrest. According to ATS sources, Ahmad, who worked as an embroidery artisan in Mumbai, allegedly came in contact with ISI operatives through Facebook and the encrypted messaging platform Signal.

The ATS alleged that Ahmad was involved in a conspiracy to carry out terrorist activities and had been tasked with procuring weapons and explosives from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan.

A case was registered at the ATS police station in Lucknow, and further legal proceedings are underway.

ATS also busted forged documents racket

In another case last month, the UP ATS arrested Saddam, an alleged mastermind of an interstate racket involved in preparing forged Indian documents and fraudulently obtaining Aadhaar cards and other identity documents for foreign nationals.

Saddam, a resident of Murshidabad district in West Bengal, was arrested from Raghunathganj in Murshidabad. The ATS said a reward of Rs 25,000 had been declared for information leading to his arrest.

According to the ATS, Saddam was allegedly a key member of a gang that used forged documents, including birth certificates, domicile certificates and school certificates, to fraudulently obtain Aadhaar cards for Bangladeshi, Nepali and other foreign nationals.

The agency also alleged that the racket misused authorised Aadhaar enrolment operator login IDs and used VPNs and remote-access tools to enrol applicants.

The ATS said it had earlier busted the network and arrested 17 accused from Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar in connection with the case.

The investigation into the Kanpur detentions and the suspected Pakistan links is continuing, with agencies working to establish the full extent of the alleged network.