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Mohammad Harun, a scrap dealer from Delhi, was arrested by the UP ATS for allegedly collaborating with a Pakistani High Commission official to share sensitive information.
Mohammad Harun, arrested by UP ATS (Photo: Social Media)
Mohammad Harun, arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad from Seelampur in Delhi on charges of espionage, last visited Pakistan before the Pahalgam terror attack, his family said. His brother also said Harun had a second wife there.
Speaking to reporters, Harun’s brother Sahid said some people in plain clothes visited Harun’s house and inquired about him, saying that were looking for people who had returned from Pakistan in the recent past.
Sahid also said that Harun had visited Pakistan on April 5 last and had returned on April 25.
“Two people came to Harun’s house in civilian uniform, but he wasn’t home. They met me and said that they were from the passport office, and those who came from Pakistan are being called back, made to sign, and then sent back after questioning,” Sahid said.
“Then Harun went with them, and when he didn’t return, we called him, his phone rang several times, and then it was switched off. When we went to the police station, they said they didn’t know anything and sent him to Noida. Then he was presented at the Lucknow in court. By the time we arrived, it was too late, and we couldn’t meet him,” he was quoted by news agency ANI as saying.
Sahid further said Harun used to go to Pakistan as he had been married there.
“He went to Pakistan last time on April 5 and returned on the 25th. During Covid, Harun used to help people in the locality,” he added.
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Speaking on his son’s arrest, Rukaiya Begum, mother of Harun, said, “I have been living here since I was 12 years old. Harun never said anything to suggest there was something going on. I wasn’t there when they took him away. He got married a second time in Pakistan, which is why he used to go there once a year.”
She also named one Mujammil and alleged he trapped his son.
“He (Harun) must have gotten to know Mujammil through visa-related work. That man has trapped my son. If this has been going on for three months, then why didn’t you stop him from crossing the border? You could have caught him if he were doing something wrong,” she said.
Harun’s wife, Shabana, confirmed her husband’s second marriage in Pakistan and claimed Harun was innocent.
“My husband is innocent. He had a second marriage in Pakistan and used to go there to meet her. He also worked on visa-related matters, and the visa always came after a full inquiry. He hasn’t done anything wrong, he is a heart patient. I want to meet him once; they arrested him and didn’t even allow us to meet him,” she said.
Forty-five-year-old Harun worked as a scrap dealer and was suspected of being involved in anti-national activities.
He was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad from Seelampur in Delhi on Thursday.
Harun was also suspected to be having contacts with Pakistani operatives, including officials connected to the Pakistani government and military.
According to PTI, Harun was reportedly collaborating with Muzammal Hussain, an employee in the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, to illegally secure Pakistani visas in exchange for money, while also allegedly transmitting sensitive information deemed harmful to India’s national interest.
“Haroon was reportedly in regular contact with Muzammal Hussain. Investigation suggests that Haroon’s familial connections in Pakistan facilitated their initial interaction during his visits to the country and the high commission,” the report quoted an official statement.
Harun allegedly worked with Hussain to collect money from multiple individuals under the pretence of arranging Pakistani visas. These funds were then deposited into various bank accounts, the statement read.
In return, Harun reportedly received a commission and delivered cash to specified individuals or locations on Hussain’s behalf.
Despite knowing Hussain’s diplomatic status and Pakistani nationality, Harun “continued to share crucial information concerning India’s internal security”, the ATS revealed, adding that the information was allegedly used by Hussain in his efforts to “destabilise” India.
Following the revelations, the Government of India declared Hussain persona non grata and ordered his expulsion from the country.
In a parallel operation at Adampur in Varanasi, the ATS on Thursday arrested another suspect identified as TufailSon of Maqassood Alam, A Resident of jaititpura.
According to the ATS, Tufail was suspected of attempting to undermine India’s sovereignty and unity by joining “anti-national” WhatsApp groups and forming a subversive organisation allegedly backed by Pakistani entities.
He is also accused of sharing sensitive information with Pakistani contacts.
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