Ahmedabad: City police crime branch has busted a new module of Pakistani spy agency Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) and arrested suspects identified as Bhupendra alias Pravin Vanzara and Anil Khatik, while third suspect Antik Pal has tested COVID-19 positive and therefore his arrest will be made later. The suspects have been booked under sections of UAPA, waging war against nation (IPC 121), IT act, among others.

Joint Commissioner of Police of Ahmedabad Crime Branch, Prem Vir Singh and DCP Chaitanya Mandlik addressing a press conference here today said that
Bhupendra alias Pravin came into contact with one Baba Pathan in March 2020 through Facebook. Baba Pathan’s Facebook page was titled as Bababhai Company and later Rajabhai Company, the names of the account were changing. Pravin was first assigned a task by Baba Khan to murder someone who is number 2 in the city of Ahmedabad. Pravin was given Rs. 25,000 through PayTM for purchase of weapon for murder. Pravin went to Madhya Pradesh for purchase of weapon. However when he was returning from Madhya Pradesh he was held by police.

The second task assigned was to set a crowded place on fire in order to cause financial damage and deaths. Pravin had to chose the place for arson on his own. Accordingly Pravin and two other accused burned city’s one of top textile markets Revdi Bazar in Kalupur area on March 20. Baba had asked for deaths and significant economic damage, however city fire brigade doused the fire timely and prevented further damage. More so, there was no any death, as the incident of fire happened in the evening. To this, the handler told Pravin, ‘isme maza nahi aayaa’. However Rs. 1.5 lakh sum was sent via angadiya based in Mumbai to accused after he sent a You Tube video link of news story on fire in busy Revdi Bazar market. When police checked with Angadiya pedhi in Mumbai, it was revealed that money was sent from Dubai. For collection of money, handler Baba Khan had asked Pravin to provide serial number of any currency note of Rs. 10 value. Pravin told a particular number to Baba. Same number was used to collect money from Angadiya pedhi.

Police said, Baba Pathan had made a fishing profile on facebook containing photos of weapons, gangsters etc, so that people with criminal mindset would attract to it. Baba would identify persons with criminal mindset and send friend request. After initial chatting on Facebook and assessing right person, Baba would switch him to Whatsapp chat and later to other apps. Police have gone through seven Whatsapp numbers Baba would use and they are all found to be virtual numbers traced to Ukrain, Estonia, African countries, Congo etc. Once recruitment was finalized, Baba would assign tasks. Initially he would ask Pravin to choose targets (whom to kill, which market to burn). Later he would have plan to order specific definitive targets. Baba would identify needs of a person and reward accordingly. Pravin was in need of money and had criminal mindset. Baba sent him money for tasks. There are 117 friends in Baba Khan’s profile and some have been found using hardline Islamic slogans. Police is going through the list of persons and their activities. Police have found few suspicious IPs linked to Karachi, Pakistan.

Police said, this is a new module, in which greedy, criminal mentality persons would be utilized through moneytrap.