UP Govt Dismantles 142 Sleeper Cells in Anti-Terror Crackdown
Yogi Adityanath’s Zero-Tolerance Policy Leads to Sweeping Anti-Terror Actions Across Uttar Pradesh
In a significant counter-terrorism development, the Uttar Pradesh government has dismantled 142 terrorist sleeper cells across the state since 2017. Acting under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s zero-tolerance policy, these extensive operations are part of an ongoing campaign to neutralize threats from extremist organizations, foreign infiltrators, and radical groups.
According to a government release on May 12, the state’s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has led this crackdown using advanced surveillance tools, human intelligence, and inter-agency coordination, contributing to the arrest of key operatives and dismantling of numerous terror and crime networks.
Breakdown of Key Achievements in the Anti-Terror Drive
- 142 sleeper cells dismantled across the state
- 230 dreaded criminals neutralized in police encounters
- 131 sleeper modules disrupted—used for harboring operatives and leaking intelligence
- 11 terror funding modules busted
- One terrorist killed in an encounter
- ₹47.03 lakh in fake currency seized
- 41 counterfeiters arrested
- 173 Rohingyas and Bangladeshis detained on national security grounds
- Over 20 religious conversion syndicates busted
- 19 cybercriminals, including 4 Chinese nationals, arrested
Targeting Extremist and International Networks
The ATS’s operations have spanned across a diverse range of extremist outfits, including global and domestic terror groups such as:
- ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria)
- AQIS (Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent)
- JMB (Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh)
- ABT (Ansarullah Bangla Team)
- LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba)
- JeM (Jaish-e-Mohammed)
- HM (Hizbul Mujahideen)
- IM-SIMI (Indian Mujahideen & Students Islamic Movement of India)
- ISI (Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence)
- PFI (Popular Front of India)
- Naxal groups
This multi-pronged campaign has led to the arrest of operatives responsible for sheltering terrorists, providing logistics, and enabling encrypted communication networks.
Countering Terror Funding and Fake Currency
A major focus of the state’s anti-terrorism agenda has been the interruption of financial networks used by extremist groups. The ATS has successfully:
- Disrupted 11 terror financing modules
- Arrested 41 individuals involved in counterfeiting currency
- Seized fake currency worth ₹47.03 lakh
- Traced financial transactions routed through hawala channels, crypto wallets, and proxy accounts
These operations have dealt a significant blow to underground funding operations that enable radical activities across northern India.
Action Against Illegal Infiltration and Cybercrime
Security agencies, acting on directives from the Yogi Adityanath government, have also cracked down on illegal migrants with potential links to extremist agendas.
- 173 Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals have been detained over national security concerns.
- Several were found involved in ID fraud and illegal land acquisitions, with active support from local handlers.
In addition, the ATS has arrested 19 cybercriminals, including four Chinese nationals, for their roles in:
- SIM card and identity theft rings
- Digital payment fraud
- Cross-border data trafficking
Religious Radicalism and Forced Conversions
Authorities also busted over 20 religious conversion syndicates that were allegedly targeting vulnerable groups across the state.
- Operatives used psychological manipulation, financial inducements, and false promises to lure individuals into conversions.
- Many of these networks were linked to radical outfits operating under the guise of NGOs and charity groups.
The crackdown was particularly sensitive around Ayodhya, where intelligence inputs warned of attempts to incite communal unrest during the construction of the Ram Temple.
Technology-Led Policing: A Key Enabler
The success of these operations owes much to the technology-driven intelligence apparatus employed by the Uttar Pradesh ATS.
- Use of AI-enabled surveillance systems, facial recognition tools, and predictive analytics
- Deployment of cyber cells across districts for tracking online radicalisation
- Collaboration with central agencies and international intelligence units
This approach has allowed law enforcement to preemptively neutralize threats, rather than merely reacting to incidents.