In one of its biggest operations against suspected anti-national networks in recent months, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Tuesday carried out simultaneous raids across Pune city, Pune Rural and Pimpri-Chinchwad, detaining 66 persons for questioning over their alleged links with Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti and his international syndicate.
The coordinated operation began around 7 am and was launched following specific intelligence inputs.
ATS officials said all 66 individuals had allegedly been in contact with Bhatti through social media platforms. While they have been detained for questioning, no arrests have been made so far, and the investigation is still at a preliminary stage.
According to the ATS, the investigation has revealed that Bhatti allegedly used social media to target and influence Indian youths, encouraging them to participate in activities detrimental to national security. Investigators suspect the network was attempting to create sleeper cells within India by exploiting vulnerable individuals through online platforms.
Officials believe the operation has exposed a wider cross-border propaganda and recruitment network that allegedly has links to Pakistan-based criminal syndicates and intelligence operatives.
The ATS has also identified several Pakistan-based associates who are believed to have been working alongside Bhatti. They include Abid Jatt alias Abid Chhal, Ajmal Gujar, Hammad Memon, Rana Hunain and Ashraf Bashir Alam.
According to investigators, the syndicate allegedly followed a structured recruitment strategy. The first step involved contacting Indian youths through fake or anonymous accounts on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and WhatsApp. Once contact was established, the recruits were allegedly exposed to divisive and inflammatory content aimed at creating resentment against the country and its institutions.
The ATS further claimed that unemployed and financially distressed youths were specifically targeted with promises of easy money. Once they became part of the network, they were allegedly assigned tasks such as gathering sensitive information, facilitating drug trafficking and transporting illegal weapons to help establish local support networks.
Following the operation, the Maharashtra ATS issued an advisory urging citizens to remain vigilant while using social media. The agency advised people not to interact with unknown or suspicious foreign profiles online and appealed to parents to closely monitor their children’s internet activities and report any sudden behavioural changes to the police.
The ATS also cautioned the public against falling for online job offers or schemes promising high earnings for little work, warning that such offers could be part of organised criminal or terror-related networks. It further urged citizens not to share or forward misleading or provocative content that could threaten national security or disturb public order
Officials said the investigation is continuing and further action will be taken based on the evidence collected during the ongoing probe.
