LUCKNOW, April 7 -- A suspected terror cell operating on Pakistani handlers' instructions allegedly dangled "major rewards" and promised the introduction of a mysterious female operative to escalate attacks across northern India, investigators have revealed. The UP Anti-Terrorist Squad's (UP ATS) interrogation of Saqib alias "Devil", the prime accused among four arrested on Friday, has exposed a two-phase operational plan linking Lucknow, Delhi-NCR, and escape routes to Maharashtra or Hyderabad. Pakistan-based handler Abu Bakar allegedly assured Saqib of a substantial monetary reward plus operational support if the planned sabotage in Lucknow succeeded, according to officials familiar with the probe. The promise emerged during custodial interrogation that began Sunday. "The possibility of a female commander or woman operative being used as part of the next communication layer is being examined very seriously. We are trying to establish whether this refers to a real individual, a code identity, or an online handler profile," an ATS officer said on condition of anonymity. The structure reveals a compartmentalised sleeper-cell operation where different handlers managed separate stages: reconnaissance, execution, and post-operation logistics. After the Lucknow operation, Saqib was allegedly instructed to flee to Maharashtra or Hyderabad where shelter assistance was reportedly promised. The broader investigation covers alleged plans involving railway sabotage, commercial arson, and surveillance of high-value targets across UP and Delhi-NCR....