UTTAR Pradesh Police has registered 12 cases and arrested 52 people in connection with the Shahzad Bhatti network, which is allegedly involved in radicalising youths through social media and encouraging attacks on religious and political leaders, and sensitive establishments, a statement said on Thursday. The network allegedly operates on the directions of Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI and Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti, the statement said. It said the network uses social media platforms to recruit Indian youths, who are offered money and work, and subsequently radicalised.

 

Police said the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) and the Special Task Force (STF), along with central agencies, conducted coordinated operations on May 26, during which about 175 suspects linked to the network were examined. Investigations subsequently led to the registration of 12 cases and the arrest of 52 accused. Pistols, live cartridges, knives, inflammable liquid and objectionable posters were recovered. Police said the cases have been registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Arms Act, Official Secrets Act and IT Act at the ATS police station here and police stations in Hapur, Ghaziabad and Bijnor. Preventive action has been taken against around 60 suspects under Section 127 (security for good behaviour from persons disseminating certain matters) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), they said