India
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India labels Shahzad Bhatti network a terrorist group
The Hindu··6d ago
The Home Ministry designated the Shahzad Bhatti Network a terrorist group under UAPA on September 16. Officials said activity spread to 14 states and more than 200 suspects were held ahead of Independence Day. Delhi Police blocked 125 Instagram accounts and filed 15 FIRs since October 2025. Recruits allegedly pasted posters or installed CCTV on his directions from the UAE.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Young men arrested on Bhatti-linked tasks face UAPA charges that carry stringent bail thresholds.
- Communities where CCTV was allegedly live-streamed to Pakistan face security reviews of installations.
- Designation as a terrorist group triggers wider financial and association scrutiny for named networks.
What's Happening
- Ministry notification said the network threatens democratic systems, communal harmony and internal security.
- Tasks assigned to recruits included posters, CCTV placement and extortion calls, investigators allege.
- Pan-India raids ahead of Independence Day detained or arrested more than 200 linked suspects.
Social media reach in terror probes
- Bhatti speaks Punjabi in filtered Instagram and Facebook videos often shot near luxury cars.
- Security officials said ISI leveraged his social reach after he moved from organised crime activity.
- Delhi Police flagged Instagram handles ending in 333 before the September 16 designation.
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