Pakistani Gangster Shahzad Bhatti Recruited Operatives Via Social Media
· India · The Hindu, India Today, Hindustan Times
Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti, currently operating from the UAE, has been identified by Indian security agencies as the mastermind behind a network that recruited youth through social media platforms. Bhatti allegedly offered payments ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 to individuals to display posters, throw grenades, and plant explosives near critical installations. The National Investigation Agency has registered three cases linked to this network, which spans 14 Indian states including Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi. Security forces arrested over 200 operatives associated with the network during a counter-terror operation conducted ahead of Independence Day. The investigation revealed that Bhatti, also a social media influencer, used Instagram and Facebook to identify and contact potential recruits.
Why it matters
The network's ability to radicalise and recruit youth across 14 states for terror-related activities poses a significant national security challenge. The use of social media to coordinate attacks on critical infrastructure demonstrates a shift in how Pakistan-backed syndicates operate within India.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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