In a significant breakthrough, Delhi Police have arrested two ISI agents and dismantled a sleeper cell network in a secret operation conducted between January and March 2025. Among the arrested is Ansarul Mian Ansari, a Nepali-origin agent, from whose possession several classified documents related to India’s armed forces were recovered. This operation highlights India’s intensified efforts to combat espionage and terrorism amid recent cross-border tensions.
Arrest and Exposure of the ISI Network
Delhi Police, working alongside central agencies, managed to apprehend Ansarul Mian Ansari from a hotel in Delhi, where he was preparing to travel to Pakistan. Investigations revealed that Ansari previously worked as a cab driver in Qatar, where he was recruited by an ISI handler. After undergoing extensive training by senior ISI officials in Pakistan, Ansari was tasked with collecting sensitive information on Indian defence infrastructure and sending it back to Pakistan. His entry into India was facilitated via Nepal. Following his interrogation, another suspect was arrested in Ranchi, indicating the sleeper cell’s wider network across regions.
Both arrested agents have been formally charged and are currently held at Tihar Jail, with a chargesheet filed in May. This operation is part of a broader crackdown on sleeper cells that has also seen recent arrests by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Mumbai, where two ISIS-linked suspects were captured at the international airport after years on the run.
Wider Crackdown and Context of Operation Sindoor
The arrests come amid a surge in India’s efforts to dismantle terrorist networks following the launch of Operation Sindoor. This military campaign targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians. The operation aimed to deliver a precise and measured response to terror threats without harming civilians.
Following Operation Sindoor, Pakistan attempted retaliatory cross-border actions, including shelling and drone incursions, but Indian forces successfully defended against these moves. A ceasefire was agreed upon by both sides on May 10. The exposure of sleeper cells like those linked to ISI and ISIS reinforces India’s determination to maintain internal security and prevent external threats from destabilizing the country.
