Indian Government Designates Shahzad Bhatti Network as Terrorist Organization
Shahzad Bhatti Network Declared Terrorist Group
31-year-old Nalbari resident Mrigen Haloi arrested by Assam STF with alleged connections to SBN (Photo: @STFAssam/X)
New Delhi, Sept 16: On Wednesday, the Indian government officially classified the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), marking its inclusion among groups recognized as terrorist entities by Indian law.
A notification from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs invoked Section 35(1)(a) of the UAPA, adding SBN to the First Schedule of the Act, which enumerates organizations designated as terrorist groups. SBN is now the 46th entity on this list.
The notification indicated that the government made this decision based on its assessment that SBN was engaged in terrorism and had been involved in various terrorist activities within India.
According to the notification, the Shahzad Bhatti Network aims to recruit impressionable youth and local criminals to facilitate the smuggling of arms, explosives, and narcotics across borders, thereby posing a significant threat to the nation's democratic framework, communal harmony, and internal security.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that this action aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism.
In a social media post, Shah stated, "Following PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s vision of zero tolerance against terror, the MHA declares the Shahzad Bhatti Network as a terrorist organization under the UAPA."
He further noted that the group is implicated in smuggling arms, explosives, and narcotics, as well as inciting youth and petty criminals towards terrorism. The syndicate has also been accused of disseminating hateful digital content that targets India's democratic structure and communal harmony.
The gazette notification also claimed that SBN has promoted terrorism through violent actions aimed at disturbing public order and has utilized digital platforms to spread provocative messages.
Numerous criminal cases have been filed against alleged SBN members across various jurisdictions, invoking provisions of the UAPA, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Arms Act, Explosives Act, Information Technology Act, and Prevention of Defacement of Property Act.
This announcement follows a nationwide crackdown on the network, with the Ministry of Home Affairs reporting in August that security forces had arrested over 200 suspected SBN operatives across 14 states during coordinated operations leading up to Independence Day.
In Assam, the State Special Task Force has been actively pursuing the network, resulting in the arrest of five individuals linked to it.
On September 1, the STF apprehended a 31-year-old resident of Nalbari, bringing the total number of arrests in this case to five. Previously, Akramul Islam from Dhubri, Aminur Rahman from Chirang, and Abdul Hussain from Barpeta were arrested on July 25, while Fazal Islam Barbhuiyan was taken into custody from Ramnathpur in Hailakandi on August 26.