Centre declares Shahzad Bhatti Network as terrorist outfit under UAPA

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Sep 16, 2026: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday declared the “Shahzad Bhatti Network" as a terrorist outfit under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The group is involved in smuggling of arms, explosives and narcotics across borders, apart from inciting youths and petty criminals into terrorism, the home ministry said.

“Pursuing PM Shri@narendramodi Ji’s vision of zero tolerance against terror, the MHA declares the Shahzad Bhatti Network as a terrorist organisation under the UAPA. The group is involved in smuggling of arms, explosives and narcotics across borders, apart from inciting youths and petty criminals into terrorism. Targeting India’s democratic structure and the fabric of communal harmony, the syndicate also published hateful digital content," the Home Minister Office’s wrote in a post on X.

What Is Shahzad Bhatti Network?

The ‘Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN)’ is an organisation whose objective is 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 MHA said.

“And whereas, the ‘Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN)’ is promoting terrorism through violent activities that disrupt public order and by using various digital communication platforms to disseminate provocative messages, posing a serious challenge to the integrity of the nation," it added.

Several criminal cases have been registered against cadres of the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) across multiple jurisdictions for their alleged involvement in unlawful and terrorist activities under various laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Arms Act, 1959, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, the Explosives Act, 1884, the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 2007, the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.