India Designates 'Shahzad Bhatti Network' as Terrorist Group Amid Expanding Cross-Border Recruitment

Over the past two years, the name of Shahzad Bhatti, a social-media influencer from Pakistan, has increasingly surfaced in terror-related investigations across India. What initially began as an effort by Bhatti to establish fear and clout in the border state of Punjab has since expanded to 14 states, leaving numerous young individuals behind bars under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for following his directions.

According to reports published by The Hindu and authored by Vijaita Singh, the Union Home Ministry officially designated the 'Shahzad Bhatti Network' (SBN) as a terrorist group under the UAPA on September 16, 2026. In its official notification, the Ministry stated that the outfit poses a serious threat to the democratic system, communal harmony, and the internal security of the country through its various terrorist activities.

Operating primarily from the United Arab Emirates, Bhatti frequently posts videos on Instagram and Facebook. Dressed in traditional Pathani suits, his content is typically shot near expensive cars or snooker tables, utilizing aesthetic filters and boastful background music. Security officials note that Bhatti has evolved from engaging in organized crimes to directing terror-related activities over the past year, eventually being tapped by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) due to his widespread reach among Indian social media users.

Ahead of India's Independence Day celebrations, a sweeping countrywide counter-terror operation led to the detention or arrest of over 200 suspects linked to the SBN network. Security agencies have closely monitored his Instagram accounts, which characteristically end in the number '333'. Prior to the pan-India raids, the Delhi Police blocked 125 Instagram accounts associated with Bhatti. Since October 2025, authorities have registered 15 First Information Reports and arrested 69 accused individuals, approximately two-thirds of whom hail from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

Investigations indicate that Bhatti targeted economically vulnerable and poorly educated individuals, exploiting them through social media promises of financial gain, assistance with personal disputes, or the prospect of relocating to the Gulf region. The network's footprint spans a wide geographic area, covering Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Gujarat, Bihar, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Kerala.

The SBN marks the 46th organization to be formally designated as a terrorist outfit under Section 35 (I) of the UAPA, 1967. The Home Ministry's notification outlines multiple categories of offenses tied to the group under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Information Technology Act, the Explosives Substances Act, the UAPA, the Official Secrets Act, the Immigration and Foreigners Act, and the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act. Officials stated that the group's core objective involves employing gullible youth and local criminals to facilitate the cross-border smuggling of arms, explosives, and narcotics.

Detailing the operational tactics of the network, a Uttar Pradesh police officer explained that initial recruitment often involved paying individuals small sums ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 to paste posters bearing Bhatti's likeness in public locations to cultivate a gangster persona and generate public fear. Once recruits demonstrated a willingness to undertake greater risks, they were assigned increasingly dangerous tasks, such as planting explosives or throwing grenades near critical security installations.

Further evidence gathered by law enforcement revealed that recruits were directed to install Chinese-made CCTV cameras near arterial roads, railway stations, and air bases, with live-fed footage transmitted directly to Pakistan. In specific instances, Bhatti allegedly transmitted online instructions for manufacturing improvised explosive devices and petrol bombs to operatives in Punjab. While financial remuneration served as the primary motivator for many, security officials noted that religious sentiments were also exploited in certain cases.

Funds for these operations frequently originated from Central Asian countries and were transferred directly into the bank accounts of local recruits. The assigned tasks carried out by operatives across the 14 states ranged widely, from extortion calls and poster campaigns to live-streaming sensitive infrastructure feeds.

As law enforcement agencies continue their nationwide crackdown on the network, the formal designation of the SBN as a terrorist organization highlights the evolving challenges posed by digital radicalization and the utilization of social media influencers by foreign intelligence agencies to recruit proxies within India's borders. Security forces remain on high alert as investigations into the extended network proceed.