![UP: ATS Found 15 ISI Agents and Sleeper Cells in 7 Districts Around Ayodhya](http://media.assettype.com/sinceindependence%2F2023-08%2Fc284ae3d-e498-47c8-a698-9c7b64ccf7ed%2FATS_INDIA_Google_Search.png?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
In January 2024, the idol of Ram Lala is to be consecrated in the Ram temple inside Ayodhya. Big leaders and VVIPs including PM Narendra Modi of the country will gather.
However, the continuous arrest of ISI terrorists, agents and sleeper cell members by the ATS from the districts surrounding Ayodhya has increased the concern of the country's security agencies.
On November 9, 2019, the Supreme Court gave its verdict in favour of Ram Mandir. Since then, ATS has caught 15 agents and sleeper cells in 7 districts near Ayodhya.
A terrorist from Balrampur in 2020
Total 4 terrorists from Lucknow in 2021
In 2021, 3 terrorists from Rae Bareli, Prayagraj and Bahraich
A terrorist from Gorakhpur in 2022
5 terrorists from Gonda in 2023, one terrorist from Gorakhpur
UP ATS has come to know in the investigation that all these terrorists were instigated in the name of Babri Masjid. The question is whether there is still a terrorist threat looming over Ayodhya and the Ram temple.
First accused: Saddam Sheikh
Allegations: Connection with Hizbul Mujahideen, Al Qaeda
Complete case:- UP ATS had arrested Saddam Sheikh from Lucknow on 2nd July. On the same day Saddam Sheikh's associate Rizwan was arrested from Jammu and Kashmir. Saddam Sheikh's house is in Pathanpurwa village in Gonda.
Saddam's wife Rubina told that Saddam was a Hindu earlier. Saddam's name was earlier Ranjit Singh. Saddam came to Pathanpurwa 15 years ago.
The ATS said that Asif's father, who had studied with Saddam in 1999, had converted him. After this Ranjit Singh got the name Saddam Sheikh.
Second accused: Mohammad Raees
Allegation: Posed as ISI agent and sent classified information
The whole matter:- Mohammad Rais, a resident of Gonda's Dinpurwa village, used to work as a painter and laborer in Mumbai. Mohammad Raees's house is next to the petrol pump in Dinpurwa village.
Mohammad Rais got 73% marks in 10th. According to the mark sheet, the age of Mohammad Raees is 26 years. The sister-in-law of Mohammad Raees's mother lives in Pakistan, but the family of Mohammad Raees or Raees never went to Pakistan.
Third accused: Mukim
Allegation: ISI agent
The whole matter:- Mukim's house is 500 meters away from Mohammad Raees's house. Mohammad Raees has trapped Mukim.
Fourth accused: Salman Siddiqui
Charges: ISI Agent, Terror Funding
The whole matter:- The house of the fourth accused Salman Siddiqui is 30 km away from the house of Mohd Rais in Tarabganj tehsil. On July 18, Salman Siddiqui was arrested by the UP ATS.
Salman Siddiqui was arrested by ATS on charges of espionage.
Senior ATS officer said Saddam is a terrorist and the other three are ISI agents. All these accused were instigated in the name of Babri Masjid.
An UP ATS official told that 'There was an attack on Ayodhya in 2005 also. Then the security forces killed 3 terrorists and 4 were arrested. In the investigation of that case, it was revealed to us that all these terrorists had reached Ambedkar Nagar near Ayodhya via Nepal and while staying there, they did Reiki of Ayodhya.
Officers say, Ayodhya is the target of terrorist organizations but, they are infiltrating in the nearby districts of Balrampur, Gonda, Barabanki, Bahraich, Gorakhpur and Ambedkarnagar. Since 2019, ISI agents are continuously being found in the districts near Ayodhya.
UP ATS arrested Tariq Athar on 6th July from Gorakhpur. He told during interrogation that Tariq Athar was influenced by ISIS and he is influenced by ISIS terrorists and guns.
Gorakhpur, Balrampur, Prayagraj, Rae Bareilly, Gonda, Bahraich, and Lucknow are also included in the list from where ISI terrorists, agents and people associated with sleeper cells are being arrested continuously. UP ATS is keeping an eye on all these areas. According to the ATS officer, the program to be held in Ayodhya is on the target of Pakistan's ISI and terrorist organizations.