• Source:JND

Shahzad Bhatti, Pakistan's famous social media influencer, is now under the radar of Indian investigating agencies as his name has repeatedly surfaced in terror-linked probe in recent months. He is alleged to have links to Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI.

Bhatti, once known as a Pakistani social media influencer, is now being described by agencies as the main face behind a digital network allegedly linked to gangster modules, radicalisation of youth, arms smuggling and a conspiracy to spread unrest in India.

On Saturday, the Delhi Police's Special Cell arrested eight suspects linked to Bhatti's module, who were allegedly planning major attacks across the country. Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Anil Shukla told a press conference that four Pakistan-made hand grenades, two Glock pistols, 24 live cartridges, a stolen motorcycle and a stolen scooter were recovered from the accused.

According to news agency PTI, the accused include Vijay (23) from Uttar Pradesh, Nitish Paswan (23) from Jharkhand, Tauqeer Rizwan Ahmed Shaikh (27) and Sajid Mehboob Shaikh alias Arbaaz Khan (27) from Maharashtra, Harvinder Singh (28), Gagandeep Singh (28) and Manjeet Singh (23) from Punjab and Nepali national Ang Kami Lama (66).

UP ATS and STF also arrested four operatives

Earlier this month, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Special Task Force (STF) also arrested four operatives linked to the Bhatti-Abid Jatt module in a joint operation.

How did an influencer become the leader of a criminal network?

According to a report by Jagran.com, Shahzad Bhatti belongs to Pakistan's Punjab province and presents himself as a social media influencer, a businessman, a social worker, and a religious commentator. However, he also has a criminal records that stretch beyond his internet life.

Pakistani police records suggest that Bhatti has several cases registered against him, including theft and robbery in 2013, along with more serious charges like rape. He fled Pakistan to Dubai around 2015, where he started a dairy business.

In Dubai, Bhatti came into contact with the people linked to the Farooq Khokhar gang in Balochistan and became a prominent member. It was there that he started building a social media identity under the name "333," where he created videos on India-Pakistan relations, religious issues, and disputes between influencers.

He gained a large following, but agencies believe this popularity was actually a cover to build a larger network.

Allegations of links with ISI

Indian agencies claim that Bhatti has links with Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI and has support from handlers like Abid Jatt, Ajmal Gujjar and Yawar Khan.

Officials allege that the network used social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to identify and target vulnerable youths across India. After initiating contact through private messages, recruits were reportedly connected to Shahzab Bhatti via video calls.

Investigators claim the recruits were enticed with promises of financial rewards, social media popularity, opportunities to settle abroad, and videos showcasing weapons. They were initially assigned seemingly minor tasks, such as sharing photographs or videos of specific locations, before being gradually drawn deeper into the network's activities.

Crackdown

Following the network's exposure, security agencies launched a large-scale nationwide crackdown in the first week of May. The 48-hour operation spanned multiple states, including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

  • Security sources said agencies were tracking more than 500 mobile numbers and social media accounts. More than 40 suspects were detained from border districts of Punjab.
  • Haryana STF detained around 90 youths and interrogated them.
  • More than 20 people were called for questioning in Delhi, where some of them were counselled and asked to delete their social media accounts.
  • In total, 481 suspects and criminals were detained under this operation.
  • Links to Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan
  • The investigation also revealed Bhatti's alleged links to a group called "Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan" (TTH). The arrested men told Delhi Police that they were instructed to write "TTH" on walls in Delhi and Faridabad.

They were also instructed to write the letter "S" beneath it, allegedly to indicate Bhatti's involvement. Agencies say the activity was supported by funding from Pakistan.

Bhatti gang's plan with arrested operatives

  • One of the most serious findings of the investigation concerns an alleged plot to target police personnel. According to investigators, the arrested suspects revealed that they had been instructed to attack police officers, record the incidents, and circulate the videos on social media to amplify their impact.
  • In one case in UP, a police officer was reportedly kept under surveillance and marked as a potential target. However, the attack allegedly failed after the assailant's weapon malfunctioned. Authorities also claim that Shahzab Bhatti publicly took responsibility on social media for the killing of three police personnel in Punjab and shared videos linked to the incidents.
  • Investigations by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Delhi Police have further uncovered alleged plans to target several sensitive locations. Operatives are said to have shared GPS coordinates and videos of crowded hospitals in Delhi and Punjab, as well as the office of a major political party.
  • According to investigators, the information was intended to facilitate potential bomb attacks. Authorities also allege that the network was plotting the assassination of a prominent individual associated with a school in Punjab.
  • The probe further revealed that details related to security arrangements at a historic temple in Delhi, including information on paramilitary deployments, were allegedly collected and shared. In addition, a well-known dhaba on the Delhi-Sonipat highway was reportedly identified as a potential target for a grenade attack.
  • Investigators also found that videos of a military installation in Hisar, Haryana, had allegedly been recorded and sent to Bhatti as part of the network's reconnaissance activities.

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