Shahzad Bhatti Network declared a terrorist organization under UAPA: What to know about the Pakistan-based group | Today’s news
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the government has designated Pakistan’s Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Shah said the move is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of maintaining zero tolerance towards terrorism.
“The group is involved in cross-border smuggling of arms, explosives and narcotics besides inciting youth and petty criminals into terrorism. Targeting India’s democratic structure and communal harmony structure, the syndicate has also published hateful digital content,” the minister said on X.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of the Interior of the Union issued a notice in the gazette pursuant to § 35 paragraph 1 letter a) UAPA and formally added the “Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN)” to the First Schedule of the Act, which lists organizations designated as terrorist groups.
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The Center said the designation followed its assessment that SBN was involved in “terrorism and was involved in various acts of terrorism in India”.
What is Shahzad Bhatti Network?
According to the MHA, the Pakistan-based ISI-backed terror network SBN has been linked to grenade, IED and petrol bomb attacks as well as targeted killings in various parts of India. The group also allegedly paid local agents to survey police, defense and religious sites and install CCTV cameras for espionage purposes.
The notification said, “The Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) is an organization that aims to involve gullible youth and local criminals in smuggling arms, explosives and narcotics across borders and through terrorist activities pose a serious threat to the democratic system, communal harmony and internal security of the country.
The SBN seeks to “radicalize gullible youth” by providing incentives, encouraging them to participate in anti-national activities and pooling resources for such acts in coordination with other banned organizations and similarly labeled entities, the notice said.
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“And whereas ‘Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN)’ is promoting terrorism through violent activities that disturb public order and using various digital communication platforms to spread provocative messages, which poses a serious challenge to the integrity of the nation,” the notification said.
SBN becomes the 46th organization on the UAPA terrorist list
The inclusion of SBN in the first UAPA schedule officially classifies the group as a “terrorist” organization under Indian law. It is the 46th organization to be added to the list.
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The notification also covered criminal cases filed against individuals allegedly linked to SBN under several laws, including the UAPA, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Arms Act, Explosives Act, Information Technology Act and Prevention of Defacement of Property Act.
Who is Shahzad Bhatti?
Bhatti, 45, is a resident of Lahore who currently lives in Dubai and is wanted in connection with several investigations in India. Citing sources, the PTI report said that his alleged connection with the 2022 killing of singer Sidhu Moosewal and his rivalry with groups associated with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi are among the key aspects of his alleged criminal activities.
According to sources mentioned in the report, Bhatti allegedly supplied the weapons used in the Moosewala killing. He was also accused of involvement in the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique in 2024. Sources said he helped Zeeshan Akhtar, who is considered a key accused in the case, to leave India and resettle in Azerbaijan.
A multi-state raid
The latest designation comes nearly a month after security agencies conducted a coordinated operation against the SBN network in 14 states ahead of Independence Day. The operation, aimed at preventing planned subversive activities, led to more than 200 arrests, according to the government.
As part of the multi-state crackdown, 253 people have been detained in 14 states, with more than 80 FIRs registered and more than 200 arrested linked to the SBN as part of the Centre’s declared “zero tolerance” policy on cross-border terrorism.
The Home Ministry said the operation was carried out on August 12 in coordination with state police forces and involved a real-time intelligence sharing mechanism to disrupt activities allegedly linked to the SBN around Independence Day.
62 people were arrested in Uttar Pradesh, 52 in Haryana, 51 in Delhi, 44 in Punjab, 15 in Rajasthan, eight in Maharashtra, five in Uttarakhand and three each in Karnataka, Gujarat and Bihar. Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Kerala recorded two arrests each. Fresh FIRs were also registered in Delhi and Karnataka.
