Official reports indicate that the past year has seen the Haryana Police step up their pursuit of the terror and gangster syndicate led by Pakistan-based Shehzad Bhatti, filing seven UAPA charges against Bhatti and his accomplices in Ambala, Karnal, Hisar, and Kurukshetra. At present, six individuals accused of being local members of Bhatti’s network are detained in various correctional facilities throughout Haryana in connection with statewide cases, which include the investigation into the bomb explosion at the Baldev Nagar police station in Ambala. Police recovered seven grenades, two IEDs, and around 2kg of RDX from the network during 2025-26.
Crackdown and Mass Detentions Ahead of Independence Day
Authorities reported that prior to Independence Day on August 12, law enforcement rounded up over 150 individuals suspected of communicating with Bhatti online, keeping 52 of them in custody for deeper inquiry. While authorities freed the majority of suspects following interrogation, they also warned the relatives and village leaders of individuals suspected of having ties to Bhatti or interacting with him on the internet.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet in July against eight accused, including Bhatti, in connection with the Ambala blast on January 11 of this year. As per the findings of the NIA probe, Bhatti operated active cells within the country and instructed domestic operatives to secure supplies, explosives, and other materials intended for assaults on law enforcement facilities.
Did You Know? Authorities recovered seven grenades, two IEDs, and around 2kg of RDX from the network during 2025-26, alongside filing UAPA cases across Ambala, Karnal, Hisar, and Kurukshetra.
Recruitment Tactics and Cross-Border Weapons Supply
The wider probe reveals that Bhatti’s network actively attempts to establish operational modules in India by recruiting vulnerable youths through social media and encrypted communication platforms. Law enforcement investigators believe the syndicate utilized these domestic agents and couriers to move arms and explosives while keeping them completely cut off from their handlers in Pakistan.
“His strongest base seemingly is in Punjab where he is trying to woo radicals who are brainwashed and openly express dissent against the Indian govt online. He then supplies or smuggles cross-border weapons to other states including Haryana and Rajasthan which are then used for illegal activities here,” a police officer said. Sources noted that central agencies also shared names of a few suspects with the Haryana Special Task Force (STF).
Investigators believe Bhatti and his associates target youths drawn to gangster culture who seek quick money or social recognition, as well as economically vulnerable individuals. Recruits were allegedly offered small payments of Rs 2,000 to 5,000 to establish trust before being assigned tasks such as collecting or transporting weapons. Investigators suspect many recruits were not told who would eventually receive the weapons or how they would be used.
Operational Isolation and Next Steps
Law enforcement authorities noted that employing such individuals creates significant hurdles in quickly establishing a connection between the domestic courier and the Pakistan-based controller. Handlers operating from abroad maintain distance from the movement of smuggled weapons and explosives inside India by promising local recruits money or incentives such as foreign visas. These recruits are simply instructed to collect or deliver consignments at designated locations without knowing the larger conspiracy.
Looking ahead, authorities are currently investigating whether individuals who communicated with these profiles limited their interactions to the digital sphere or later progressed to participating in weapon transit, supply chain logistics, or criminal acts. Additional questioning and forensic analysis of seized digital devices could yield further arrests as central and state agencies continue mapping the full extent of the cross-border network.
Frequently Asked Questions
What actions have Haryana Police taken against Shehzad Bhatti’s network?
Haryana Police registered seven cases under the UAPA against Bhatti and his local associates across Ambala, Karnal, Hisar, and Kurukshetra over the past year, resulting in the recovery of seven grenades, two IEDs, and around 2kg of RDX.
How many individuals were detained in connection with the network?
More than 150 people suspected of being in touch with Bhatti through social media were rounded up, and 52 were detained for further investigation ahead of Independence Day on August 12.
What role did the NIA play in the investigation?
The National Investigation Agency filed a chargesheet in July against eight accused, including Bhatti, alleging he ran operational modules in India and directed local operatives to arrange logistics and explosives for attacks on police establishments.
How do local recruitment strategies complicate cross-border terror investigations in the region?
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