New Delhi, July 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Indian intelligence and security agencies have issued a fresh advisory urging social media users, particularly young people, to remain vigilant against suspicious online interactions, warning that extremist groups are increasingly using digital platforms to identify, groom and recruit individuals for anti-national activities.
According to intelligence officials, accepting a friend request or following an unknown account may appear harmless but could become the first step in a carefully planned recruitment process employed by terror networks.
An Intelligence Bureau (IB) official said users should verify the identity and background of unknown individuals before engaging with them online. Even if a request is accepted inadvertently, users should remain cautious if the person begins initiating conversations or attempts to build a personal rapport.
Officials said Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), through the Pakistan-based Shahzad Bhatti network, has allegedly exploited the widespread use of social media to identify and recruit Indian youths. Investigations indicate that social media platforms are used to identify potential targets, while encrypted messaging applications are later employed to establish trust and conduct covert communications.
A probe by the Assam Police found that recruiters typically engage targets in routine conversations for nearly a month before shifting them to private messaging platforms once they believe the individual is willing to undertake assignments.
According to investigators, the recruitment process is designed to gradually build confidence before assigning tasks that may include gathering sensitive information or carrying out targeted activities in exchange for money.
Officials also revealed that recruiters deliberately avoid mentioning banned terror organisations such as Jaish-e-Mohammed or Lashkar-e-Taiba during the initial stages to avoid raising suspicion. Investigators believe the recruitment model is increasingly driven by financial incentives rather than ideological indoctrination.
Security agencies probing several modules linked to the Shahzad Bhatti network found that many of those arrested claimed they were unaware of any direct association with terror outfits and had undertaken assignments solely for monetary gain.
Investigators further said payments are not made directly by foreign handlers. Instead, ISI-linked operatives based in India are allegedly used to transfer funds to recruits, while the handlers themselves reportedly rely on hawala and other covert channels to finance these operations.
Security agencies are now focusing on identifying those involved in handling financial transactions, as tracing the money trail is considered critical to dismantling the broader recruitment network.
Officials said a large-scale operation is underway to identify and disrupt these recruitment modules before vulnerable individuals progress to the next stage of radicalisation. They warned that the second phase of recruitment involves systematic indoctrination, exposure to extremist propaganda and assignment of operational tasks, making early intervention crucial.
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