Now Reading: Pak gangster Shahzad Bhatti used social media to recruit Indians for terror
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Pak gangster Shahzad Bhatti used social media to recruit Indians for terror
Indian security agencies have busted a Pakistan-linked terror network run by gangster Shahzad Bhatti, who used his social media following of over 7 lakh on Instagram and Facebook to recruit young Indians for bombings, espionage and attacks on police stations. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said more than 200 operatives were arrested in coordinated operations across 14 states on August 12, with recoveries including IEDs, Pakistan-made grenades and pistols.
The Uttar Pradesh Police have now sought the Centre's approval to designate Bhatti and his network as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Police say Bhatti operated from the UAE at the behest of Pakistan's ISI, initially offering recruits Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 for tasks like putting up posters before escalating to planting explosives and reconnaissance of sensitive locations. The National Investigation Agency has linked Bhatti to multiple attacks including a March 2025 grenade attack in Jalandhar.
The network spread across 14 states with over 80 FIRs registered under UAPA, Arms Act and other laws. UP Police have arrested 52 accused in 12 cases since May, with further preventive action against 60 suspects. The Centre's decision on the terror tag request is pending.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Across all sources, the Shahzad Bhatti story is reported with near-uniform framing: a Pakistani ISI-backed gangster exploiting social media to recruit Indians for terror. Moneycontrol and NDTV foreground the digital recruitment mechanics and Bhatti's influencer-like following, while India Today and Hindustan Times lead with the crackdown scale, 200-plus arrests across 14 states, and UP Police's terror-tag request. Missing from all accounts is any independent verification of Bhatti's claimed 7 lakh followers or the live-relay of CCTV footage. The government-critical frame is absent, every report accepts the official narrative without challenge. The measured read: this is a standard Indian security-agency operation story, notable only for the novel social-media grooming vector. Watch for the Centre's decision on UP Police's terror-tag request under UAPA, expected within weeks.
Coverage: 4 sources, 3 neutral, 1 sensationalist
Sources (4): moneycontrol.com (neutral report), indiatoday.in (neutral report), ndtv.com (sensationalist), hindustantimes.com (neutral report)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 4 sources linked above. Methodology and corrections.
Updated: this story now draws on 4 sources.
