Shehzad Bhatti Network Declared Terrorist Organisation Under UAPA
The Pakistan-based Shehzad Bhatti Network (SBN) has been banned in India after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs declared it a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Indian security agencies have conducted operations against the SBN network across 14 states in recent times. According to government data, more than 200 people have been arrested and over 80 FIRs have been registered in connection with the network.
In Assam, the Special Task Force (STF) of Assam Police has also conducted operations against the alleged SBN network. In July, three people were arrested from Dhubri, Chirang and Barpeta, followed by two more arrests from Hailakandi and Kamrup. With this, the number of arrests in Assam over alleged links with the SBN has risen to five.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the SBN is allegedly involved in the smuggling of arms, explosives and narcotic substances across the border, as well as in radicalising youths and local criminals for extremist activities.
The organisation has also been accused of using digital platforms to spread anti-India propaganda and of posing a threat to India’s internal security, democratic institutions and communal harmony.
What is the Shehzad Bhatti Network?
According to the Home Ministry, the SBN is a Pakistan-based terrorist-criminal network allegedly involved in recruiting members in India, online radicalisation, arms trafficking and establishing sleeper cells for terrorist activities.
Government agencies have reportedly recovered IEDs, grenades, pistols, live ammunition and CCTV cameras allegedly used for surveillance during operations against the network.
