Union Home Ministry Designates Shahzad Bhatti Network as Terrorist Group
· India · The Hindu
The Union Home Ministry has officially designated the 'Shahzad Bhatti Network' (SBN) as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The network, led by a Pakistan-based social media influencer, is accused of orchestrating illegal activities across 14 Indian states, including Punjab. Investigators state that the group recruited young men to perform tasks such as installing CCTVs for live-streaming sensitive installations to Pakistan and making extortion calls. Over 200 suspects linked to the network were detained or arrested during a nationwide counter-terror operation conducted ahead of Independence Day. Security agencies report that Bhatti, who currently operates from the UAE, was recruited by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to leverage his social media influence for terror-related activities.
Why it matters
The designation allows Indian authorities to take stricter legal action against the network's members and assets, aiming to dismantle a digital recruitment pipeline that has compromised internal security across multiple states.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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