ISI Sleeper Cell Network Busted in Delhi: Two Arrested
Delhi Police Dismantle ISI Network
In a significant intelligence operation, the Delhi Police successfully dismantled a sleeper cell network operated by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The operation, which spanned from January to March 2025, involved the arrest of two ISI agents and the recovery of classified documents related to India’s armed forces. Central agencies played a crucial role in this covert operation.
Who are the Arrested Agents?
One of the arrested agents, identified as Ansarul Mian Ansari, is of Nepali origin. He was apprehended in Delhi while attempting to flee to Pakistan. According to news agency ANI, Ansari was a cab driver in Qatar where he met an ISI handler. He was subsequently taken to Pakistan for training and tasked with procuring confidential documents from India.
Ansari’s interrogation led to the arrest of another individual in Ranchi.
Charges and Imprisonment
Charges against both arrested agents were filed in May 2025, following which they were lodged in Tihar Jail in Delhi.
Recent ISIS Sleeper Cell Arrests in Mumbai
This development comes just days after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) apprehended two absconding individuals, suspected to be part of an ISIS sleeper cell network, at the Mumbai airport. These individuals, Abdullah Faiyaz Shaikh alias Diaperwala and Talha Khan, were wanted in a 2023 case involving the fabrication and testing of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Pune. They had been on the run for over two years and had non-bailable warrants issued against them.
Crackdown on Sleeper Cells Amid Rising Tensions
These recent arrests highlight the intensifying crackdown on sleeper cell networks across India. The actions come in the wake of Operation Sindoor, launched by India in response to a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam in April 2025. Under Operation Sindoor, Indian forces conducted targeted strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The operation was followed by cross-border skirmishes, with Pakistan attempting retaliatory actions using drones and shelling. However, India successfully thwarted these attempts, and a ceasefire was eventually agreed upon on May 10, 2025.
