Chandigarh: Centre on Wednesday declared Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) a terrorist organisation under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, citing its alleged involvement in arms, explosives and narcotics smuggling, radicalisation of youth and terrorist activities.In a notification issued Wednesday, ministry of home affairs said Bhatti‘s objective was to involve gullible youth and local criminals to smuggle arms, explosives, and narcotics from across the border and, through terrorist activities, pose a serious threat to the democratic system, communal harmony and internal security of the country.The move comes a little over a month after a coordinated nationwide crackdown ahead of Independence Day, in which 253 operatives of the network were arrested across 14 states, including 44 in Punjab, in more than 80 FIRs.Centre has inserted SBN as serial number 46 in First Schedule of UAPA, which contains the list of organisations designated as terrorist organisations. The amendment has been made under Section 35(1)(a) of the Act.The notification said, “The ‘Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN)’ is involved in radicalising gullible youth by offering various allurements, motivating them for anti-national activities, and mobilising resources for antinational acts in collusion with other banned organisations and designated entities.”Centre said it “believes that ‘Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN)’ is involved in terrorism and has participated in various acts of terrorism in India.” Govt further alleged the network was promoting terrorism through violent activities and digital platforms.Centre said several criminal cases had been registered against cadres of SBN for their alleged involvement in unlawful and terrorist activities. The cases invoke provisions of BNS, Arms Act, UAPA, Explosive Substances Act, Explosives Act, Information Technology Act, Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, Official Secrets Act and Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.In Punjab, Bhatti has been named by investigating agencies in connection with alleged terror-crime cases. In March 2025, Bhatti claimed responsibility for a grenade attack at the Jalandhar residence of social media influencer Roger Sandhu’s in-laws. NIA said its investigation traced the conspiracy to Bhatti and chargesheeted him as an absconder in the case. In Nob 2025, a grenade attack outside Gurdaspur City police station was allegedly carried out on Bhatti’s instructions, according to Delhi Police Special Cell, which said it had busted a Pakistan-backed module linked to the attack.On April 7, 2025, a grenade was thrown at the Jalandhar residence of senior BJP functionary and former Punjab minister Manoranjan Kalia. Punjab Police had initially named Bhatti and Zeeshan Akhtar as key conspirators, while NIA subsequently chargesheeted four other accused as it probed the alleged conspiracy involving a BKI-linked module.
