The Delhi Police Special Cell has busted an alleged Pakistan-backed interstate terror and arms network with the arrest of four men, including one accused who allegedly conducted reconnaissance of police establishments and religious places in the capital on instructions from Pakistan-based handlers, police said on Thursday.

Deputy commissioner of police (Special Cell) Praveen Kumar Tripathi said the accused were identified as Shubdeep Singh alias Vishal, 23, Gurjant Singh alias Rishi, 22, Sajan Singh alias Honey, 28 and Gaganpreet, 24, all residents of Punjab. Three were arrested in Punjab, while Gaganpreet was apprehended in Delhi.

According to police, the module was allegedly operated at the behest of Pakistan-based ISI handler Shahzad Bhatti and his associates, who recruited youths from Punjab to carry out a terror strike in Delhi-NCR. The accused communicated with their handlers using foreign phone numbers to evade detection.

Shubdeep allegedly disclosed that he was in regular contact with Pakistan-based handlers and was involved in receiving consignments of firearms and narcotics dropped by drones from across the border, police said.

Investigation began after receiving specific intelligence about a terror plot. “Based on technical surveillance and raids across Delhi and Punjab, officers first arrested Shubdeep Singh from Majitha Road in Amritsar. Police recovered a semi-automatic pistol, five live cartridges and two mobile phones,” Tripathi said.