In one of the biggest co-ordinated crackdowns, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) conducted raids at nearly 57 locations across the State to trace and dismantle the network of Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti, who is allegedly attempting to lure Indian youths into anti-national and terror-related activities through online platforms. The raids were carried out in multiple districts, including Mumbai, Pune, Nanded, Akola and areas under the Nagpur range. In Vidarbha alone, searches were conducted at three districts, including Bhandara, Chandrapur and Buldhana. Senior ATS officials said, the operation was launched to identify people who had come in contact with Bhatti and assess whether they had been influenced or radicalised through his network.

 

According to ATS sources, Bhatti and his associates allegedly target youths through gaming applications, encrypted social media platforms and online chat groups. Investigators believe, these interactions often begin casually before gradually shifting towards anti-national narratives and extremist content. “Initially, these youths are approached through gaming apps or social networking platforms in a very casual manner. Over time, conversations are diverted towards extremist thinking and anti-national activities,” an ATS officer said. Officials clarified that the people questioned during the raids were not terrorists.

 

“This is still a preliminary investigation. Most of them appear to be ordinary youths who unknowingly came in contact with the network, while using gaming apps or social media platforms,” another ATS official said. Investigators believe Bhatti’s network operates in layers. Agencies suspect that handlers linked to Pakistan’s intelligence establishment may be using criminal syndicates and online platforms to identify vulnerable youths, gather information and potentially build sleeper modules in India. Sources said, the ATS is also probing whether the network has links to illegal arms suppliers, smuggling operations and espionage-related activities. An officer associated with the investigation said, the agency recently received intelligence inputs suggesting that Bhatti’s syndicate may have tried to obtain sensitive surveillance information through illegal means. “There are inputs regarding attempts to misuse CCTV systems and gather strategic information. Every angle is being verified,” the officer added. In Vidarbha, separate operations were carried out by ATS teams from Nagpur and Akola.

 

The Akola ATS unit conducted a raid in Buldhana district, but the suspect was not found as he is reportedly a native of Uttar Pradesh and was away at the time. Searches were also conducted in Bhandara and Chandrapur districts. Officials said, no suspicious document or terror-related material was recovered during those raids. In Chandrapur district, an ATS team from the Nagpur range reached Gondpipri tehsil after receiving specific inputs about a person allegedly linked to Bhatti’s online network. The person was brought in for questioning, and his mobile phone, social media accounts and other digital records were examined. A senior Chandrapur Police officer said, the suspect was questioned for nearly an hour. “The ATS team carried out technical verification of his online activities. No immediate threat perception or suspicious terror link was found, following which he was released,” the officer said. Officials maintained that the operation was preventive in nature and aimed at disrupting such online networks before they could pose a serious security threat.

 

 

According to security agencies, Shahzad Bhatti is a Pakistan-based gangster who allegedly runs an international criminal and online influence network from abroad. Investigators suspect that, his syndicate has been trying to expand its reach in India through social media platforms. ATS officials believe, Bhatti’s network first establishes friendly contact with young users online and then, slowly exposes them to extremist propaganda, illegal activities and anti-national narratives. Agencies are also probing whether the network has links with Pakistan-based handlers and organised criminal groups involved in arms smuggling and espionage. “Such networks operate silently. The idea is to identify vulnerable persons, influence them psychologically and eventually use them for different activities. Our priority is to identify and disrupt these channels at an early stage,” an ATS official said. No arrests have been made so far in connection with the raids. However, officials confirmed that the digital evidence collected during the searches is now being analysed in detail and the case is under active investigation.