New Delhi, July 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the main recruitment ground for the Shahzad Bhatti network, which investigators allege was being used by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to recruit Indian youth for anti-India activities, officials said.
According to officials familiar with the investigation, the network’s operations have spread to Delhi and Maharashtra, but Uttar Pradesh remains its primary focus. Of the 20 people arrested so far in the case, nine are from the state.
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) recently arrested 29-year-old Sharon Ahmad, a Class VII dropout, for his alleged involvement in the network. Investigators claimed that he was offered financial incentives to collect sensitive information and recruit and radicalise young people through social media platforms.
Intelligence officials said the network has been attempting to build a digital recruitment chain by identifying vulnerable youth and exposing them to extremist content. The targeted age group, according to officials, is mainly between 25 and 30 years.
Officials said western Uttar Pradesh has been a major focus due to its proximity to national targets, extensive transport connectivity and increasing digital penetration. Districts including Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Ghaziabad and Noida are under scrutiny as part of the investigation.
Investigators allege that recruits were initially assigned low-profile tasks, including recording videos of local infrastructure and mapping public facilities, before being considered for more significant roles. The network allegedly exploited economic vulnerabilities, with some recruits willing to undertake assignments for payments ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000.
Officials said the collected information was allegedly intended to support future operations, including planning related to arms smuggling and disruption of critical infrastructure. The investigation has also examined alleged attempts to gather details about railway networks, including signal systems, with a focus on areas around Delhi and neighbouring regions.
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