How ISI-funded Shahzad Bhatti Network was busted before I-Day? 254 terrorists arrested from 14 states, over 80 FIRs filed
How ISI Funded Shahzad Bhatti Network Was Busted
Indiadailyupdate.com – How ISI funded Shahzad Bhatti Network operatives across India became the defining question of the week when security agencies executed a simultaneous, multi-state crackdown on August 12, just days before Independence Day. The operation dismantled what officials call the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN), an ISI-financed terror cell that had been plotting coordinated attacks on police stations, defence installations, and places of worship. In total, at least 254 suspects were taken into custody across 14 states, and more than 80 FIRs were registered against members of the syndicate.
Government Announcement and Operational Details
Union Home Minister Amit Shah took to X to confirm that the government had intercepted subversive attack plans hatched by the ISI-linked group. He characterised the coordinated sweeps as proof of India's zero-tolerance posture toward terrorism, stating that security forces had "ripped apart the network by launching coordinated operations across different locations in 14 states."
"Indian security forces ripped apart the network by launching coordinated operations across different locations in 14 states, upholding a brilliant example of India's zero-tolerance towards terrorism." — Union Home Minister Amit Shah
A subsequent government statement clarified that the operation relied on a real-time intelligence-sharing platform and was carried out in close coordination with State Police forces. The timing was deliberate: intelligence indicated the SBN had scheduled disruptions to coincide with Independence Day festivities, and authorities moved to neutralise those plans before they could materialise.
What the Network Did and How It Was Funded
Official disclosures describe the Shahzad Bhatti Network as the force behind a sustained pattern of grenade attacks, IED detonations, petrol-bomb incidents, and targeted killings spread across multiple states. The cell channelled money—sourced, according to investigators, from ISI channels—to local operatives tasked with surveilling police installations, defence facilities, and places of worship. It also paid individuals to install CCTV cameras at strategic locations for espionage purposes.
Among the specific incidents attributed to the network is the March 2025 grenade attack on the Jalandhar residence of social-media personality Roger Sandhu. The National Investigation Agency has chargesheeted Shahzad Bhatti himself as an absconder in that case. NIA further identified Bhatti as the mastermind behind explosions in Haryana, including the November 2025 blast at the Sirsa women police station and the January 2026 bombing at the Baldev Nagar police station in Ambala.
Material recovered from suspects during the sweeps included live cartridges, pistols, improvised explosive devices, surveillance cameras, and grenades bearing markings from Pakistan's Ordnance Factory—evidence that reinforced the link between the cell and Pakistani military supply lines.
Arrest Breakdown and Legal Framework
The largest number of detainees came from Uttar Pradesh (62), followed by Haryana (52), Delhi (51), and Punjab (44). Rajasthan contributed 15 arrests, Maharashtra 8, and Uttarakhand 5. Three suspects each were apprehended in Bihar, Gujarat, and Karnataka, while two each were picked up in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala.
Cumulatively, more than 80 FIRs and over 200 arrests have been registered against the SBN under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Arms Act, the NDPS Act, and the Explosive Substances Act. Investigators indicated that further chargesheets are expected as interrogations continue.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the crackdown take place? The coordinated operation was executed on August 12, 2026, days before Independence Day celebrations. Authorities cited real-time intelligence indicating the network had planned disruptions timed to coincide with the national holiday.
How many people were arrested and in which states? At least 254 suspects were taken into custody across 14 states. Uttar Pradesh accounted for the largest share (62), followed by Haryana (52), Delhi (51), and Punjab (44). Smaller numbers were apprehended in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala.
What charges are being filed? Over 80 FIRs have been registered under the UAPA, BNS, Arms Act, NDPS Act, and Explosive Substances Act. The NIA has separately chargesheeted Shahzad Bhatti as an absconder in connection with the March 2025 Jalandhar grenade attack.
What evidence links the network to Pakistan? Grenades recovered during the sweeps carried markings from Pakistan's Ordnance Factory. Investigators also traced the flow of funds from ISI channels to local operatives who carried out surveillance and planted surveillance equipment at strategic sites.