India dismantles Pakistan-backed network led by Shahzad Bhatti, 253 arrested
Security agencies across 14 states busted a terrorist module linked to Pakistan’s ISI, averting a planned attack before Independence Day.
Indian security forces announced a major breakthrough in counter‑terror operations after dismantling a Pakistan‑backed network allegedly run by a man identified as Shahzad Bhatti. The operation, coordinated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) together with the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and state police, resulted in the arrest of 253 suspects spread across 14 states, officials said.
According to the agencies, the cell functioned as an extension of Pakistan’s Inter‑Services Intelligence (ISI), recruiting operatives, raising funds and planning attacks aimed at destabilising India ahead of the nation’s Independence Day celebrations. Interrogations revealed that the group had been preparing a series of low‑intensity explosions in major urban centres, with the intent of creating panic on or around August 15.
The crackdown began in early July, when intelligence inputs flagged unusual financial transactions and communications linked to a handful of suspects in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. Over the next weeks, coordinated raids were carried out in Maharashtra, West Bengal, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and several other states. In each location, authorities seized explosives, fake identification documents, and encrypted devices that are believed to contain operational plans.
Police officials emphasized that the arrests were the result of "meticulous surveillance and inter‑agency cooperation" and that the network’s leadership, including Bhatti, had been under watch for several months. While Bhatti himself remains at large, investigators have traced his movements to a series of safe houses in the border districts of Punjab and Rajasthan, suggesting a deeper logistical support network.
The operation is being hailed as a significant blow to cross‑border terror activities targeting India. Senior officials warned that the ISI continues to attempt infiltration, but stressed that robust intelligence sharing and rapid response mechanisms are in place to counter such threats. The government has pledged to continue its vigilance as the nation approaches its national holiday.
Original reporting: NDTV.