Centre Declares Pakistan-Based Shahzad Bhatti Network As Terrorist Outfit

The MHA has declared the Shahzad Bhatti Network a terrorist organisation under the UAPA, citing cross-border smuggling and terror activities

PGurus Newsdesk

September 16, 2026

The ban follows a major crackdown this Independence Day that saw over 200 arrests linked to the network across 14 states

From Gurdaspur grenade attack to UAPA ban: the Shahzad Bhatti Network story

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday declared the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), adding it to the Act’s First Schedule of banned outfits via a Gazette of India notification invoking Section 35(1)(a). Home Minister Amit Shah said the move follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s vision of zero tolerance against terror, describing the network’s involvement in smuggling arms, explosives and narcotics across the border, alongside efforts to draw youths and petty criminals into terrorism.

Who Is Shahzad Bhatti

According to the government, SBN is a Pakistan-based terror syndicate linked to grenade, IED and petrol bomb attacks, as well as targeted killings across India. Intelligence agencies describe Shahzad Bhatti himself as an ISI-backed operative and a long-time rival of category-A gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, allegedly instrumental in supplying explosives — including the grenade used in an attack on the Gurdaspur police station in Punjab. A senior police official told reporters Bhatti has been heavily involved in trafficking arms and ammunition across multiple countries, including the US and Canada, before extending operations into India.

The Case Against The Network

The MHA’s notification describes SBN’s objective as involving gullible youth and local criminals in cross-border smuggling and terrorist activities that threaten the country’s democratic system, communal harmony and internal security. The network is also accused of radicalising young recruits through various inducements and mobilising resources for anti-national acts in coordination with other banned organisations, while using digital platforms to circulate provocative content.

A Crackdown Months In The Making

Wednesday’s declaration follows a major multi-state operation launched on the eve of Independence Day this year, when security agencies carried out a sweeping crackdown against the network. Over 253 people were detained across 14 states, with more than 80 FIRs and over 200 arrests recorded in connection with SBN as part of the government’s zero-tolerance approach to cross-border terrorism.

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