New Delhi, August 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Shehzad Bhatti network, which Indian agencies say had recruited Indian youth for criminal activities, is attempting to re-establish its operations in the country after a major crackdown, according to officials.
Agencies have dismantled a large part of the network and taken down numerous social media accounts allegedly linked to Bhatti and his associates. Officials said the crackdown followed action against the network after Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the module had been destroyed.
Bhatti subsequently released a video disputing the government’s claim. He alleged that those arrested were not his associates and claimed that people recruited by him and his associates continued to work for the network.
An official, however, said Bhatti’s claim was false and that the network had been substantially dismantled. According to officials, Bhatti and his associates are now attempting to maintain contact with potential recruits through alternative online channels while agencies monitor their known social media presence.
Officials also said the network was attempting to establish contacts with Indians living abroad, with the alleged objective of using them to identify and approach potential recruits in India.
An Intelligence Bureau official described Bhatti as an alleged ISI asset and said the network was considered relatively inexpensive to operate compared with larger militant organisations. According to the official, some recruits were allegedly offered as little as Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000.
Officials said the network’s principal purpose was surveillance and information gathering, with recruits allegedly expected to act as the “eyes and ears” of the Pakistani intelligence agency and provide information that could potentially assist larger terror groups.
The agencies are continuing to monitor social media accounts associated with Bhatti and his supporters and seek their removal through legal mechanisms.
Recently, Meta integrated Instagram and Facebook with the Sahyog portal developed by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C). The system facilitates law-enforcement requests for content removal under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act.
Officials said the sustained takedown of accounts linked to the network had forced its handlers to reconsider their approach. They cautioned that countering the alleged network would remain a continuing challenge as agencies work to prevent its re-establishment.
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