Centre Designates 'Shahzad Bhatti Network' as Terrorist Entity Under UAPA

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has officially declared the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) a banned terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

The government issued a gazette notification designating the syndicate under Section 35 of the legislation. Authorities acted following extensive probes into the outfit's involvement in cross-border arms smuggling, radicalising young citizens, and coordinating subversive plots.

Scope of Criminal and Terrorist Activities

According to the official notification, the syndicate targeted vulnerable youth and local criminals to smuggle explosives, weapons, and narcotics across international borders.

Investigators found that the network utilised digital communication channels to spread provocative material. These actions posed direct challenges to the country's communal harmony, internal security, and democratic framework.

Multiple state jurisdictions and federal agencies registered numerous criminal cases against operatives linked to the network. Charges span violations under the UAPA, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Arms Act, and the Information Technology Act.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah writing on social media platform X, Shah noted that the syndicate actively destabilised public order through violence and targeted recruitment. Security establishments across multiple states have previously detained dozens of suspected operatives in connection with the syndicate's infrastructure.

Legal Implications and Schedule Amendment

With its formal inclusion in the First Schedule of the UAPA, the Shahzad Bhatti Network joins the roster of outlawed entities.

Law enforcement agencies hold expanded powers to seize assets, intercept communications, and prosecute associates or sympathisers linked to the group. The amendment takes effect immediately across all states and Union territories.