Security agencies have warned of an alleged ISI-linked destabilisation plan targeting Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Manipur ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, involving terror threats, narcotics and arms smuggling, grenade attacks, recruitment networks and attempts to fuel unrest.
Intelligence agencies have warned of an alleged multi-state destabilisation strategy linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, with Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Manipur identified as key areas of concern.
Seven states—Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur and Goa—are scheduled to go to the polls between February and March 2027. Against this backdrop, security agencies have assessed possible threats and identified states considered particularly vulnerable to attempts aimed at disturbing the electoral environment.
According to intelligence inputs cited by officials, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Manipur are facing the highest level of concern over alleged ISI-backed activities. The nature of the suspected threats differs from state to state, with terror attacks and espionage reportedly being the main concerns in Uttar Pradesh, while Punjab could face increased arms and narcotics smuggling along with isolated grenade attacks.
Manipur, meanwhile, remains a major security concern because of the unresolved issues surrounding the ethnic conflict that erupted in 2023. Officials have warned that attempts could be made to exploit existing tensions, spread misinformation and revive unrest ahead of the elections.
An Intelligence Bureau official said the alleged plan involves different networks working toward separate objectives. In Uttar Pradesh, intelligence agencies are particularly concerned about surveillance of sensitive and crowded locations, including railway stations and bus stands, along with possible attempts to facilitate terror attacks and espionage.
Investigators have also traced an alleged recruitment network associated with Shahzad Bhatti, who is accused of recruiting Indian youths for various illegal activities. According to officials, the recruits were allegedly offered small sums of money and instructed to perform tasks ranging from surveillance and installing CCTV cameras to facilitating terror-related activities, narcotics smuggling and counterfeit currency operations.
Officials said recruitment linked to the alleged network was particularly significant in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, both of which are scheduled to hold Assembly elections in 2027. Investigators suspect that some recruits could have been intended for activities during the period immediately preceding the polls as well as during the election process.
Punjab has emerged as another major area of concern. Intelligence officials have warned about alleged efforts to increase the movement of narcotics and illegal arms into the state. Security agencies are also examining isolated incidents involving grenades and vandalism allegedly linked to pro-Khalistan elements.
Officials believe such incidents could serve multiple purposes, including creating an atmosphere of insecurity and diverting the attention of law enforcement agencies while illegal arms and narcotics networks continue to operate.
Manipur presents a different but potentially wider challenge. Although the intensity of the violence that began in 2023 has declined, several issues connected to the conflict remain unresolved. Security agencies fear that vested interests could exploit these unresolved tensions through misinformation, provocative narratives and attempts to trigger fresh clashes.
Officials have also expressed concern that any renewed instability in Manipur could have wider implications for the Northeast. According to intelligence assessments cited by officials, alleged ISI-linked networks and their proxies could attempt to exploit local grievances and tensions with the broader objective of creating instability beyond the state.
| Also Read: Govt refutes Musk allegations, says Starlink faces fair regulatory process in… |
Security agencies are therefore maintaining heightened vigilance across the election-bound states. The focus is expected to remain on preventing terror activities, disrupting arms and narcotics networks, monitoring suspicious recruitment and countering misinformation that could contribute to communal or ethnic tensions.
With the 2027 Assembly elections approaching, intelligence agencies are continuing to assess potential threats and coordinate preventive measures to ensure that the electoral process remains peaceful and secure.
