India
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Centre bans Shahzad Bhatti Network as 46th UAPA outfit
The Hindu··16 Sept
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on September 16, 2026 that the Centre declared the Pakistan-based Shahzad Bhatti Network a terrorist organisation under UAPA. A Home Ministry gazette under Section 35(1)(a) added SBN to the First Schedule. The notice said the group smuggles arms and narcotics and threatens internal security. SBN is the 46th entry on the banned list.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Membership, funding or support for the Shahzad Bhatti Network can now be prosecuted under UAPA terrorist-organisation rules.
- The First Schedule listing lets agencies treat SBN like other banned outfits when opening cases under the Act.
- Digital content and recruitment linked to the network fall under the same designation used in the gazette notification.
What's Happening
- Amit Shah said on September 16, 2026 that the Centre declared the Pakistan-based Shahzad Bhatti Network a terrorist organisation under UAPA.
- A Union Home Ministry gazette under Section 35(1)(a) added SBN to the First Schedule of banned groups.
- The ministry said SBN smuggles arms and narcotics, recruits youth and local criminals, and uses digital platforms for provocative messages.
What the Ban Changes
- SBN is the 46th organisation added to the UAPA First Schedule list of designated terrorist groups.
- Hindustan Times reported the network is run by gangster-turned-terrorist Shahzad Bhatti and backed by Pakistan's ISI.
- Livemint said MHA linked the group to grenade, IED and petrol bomb attacks and paid reconnaissance of police and defence sites.
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