Story perspectives

India designates Shahzad Bhatti Network terrorist group under UAPA

By Drooid · Sep 18, 2026, 4:15 AM UTC · How we work

Center

Modi Zero Tolerance

India’s Ministry of Home Affairs designated Shahzad Bhatti Network as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on 16 September 2026.
The designation followed a 12 August operation that arrested over 200 suspects across 14 states and recovered IEDs, grenades, pistols and equipment.
The gazette invoked Section 35(1)(a) of UAPA to add SBN as entry 46 in First Schedule.
Home Minister Amit Shah said move reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism.

Right

Foreign Backed Network

India’s Ministry of Home Affairs designated the Shahzad Bhatti Network as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on 16 September 2026.
The notification stressed that the group is Pakistan-based and backed by the Inter-Services Intelligence, highlighting foreign involvement.
It was entered as item 46 in the First Schedule of the Act.
Authorities alleged the network recruits gullible youth and local criminals for terrorist activities.

Blindspot

More than 200 suspects were arrested in a coordinated operation across 14 states, with authorities seizing IEDs, grenades, pistols and surveillance equipment, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Within this story's sources, this detail appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Right-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

In 2008, the Indian government designated Lashkar-e-Taiba as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act after the Mumbai attacks killed 166 civilians. The Ministry of Home Affairs, led by Home Minister Amit Shah, seized 12,000 firearms and 3,500 kilograms of explosives during the 2008 crackdown. Similarly, on 16 September 2026, the same ministry listed the Pakistan-backed Shahzad Bhatti Network as entry 46 in the First Schedule, citing ISI support. These designations reinforce India’s zero-tolerance stance, prompting heightened border security and prompting neighboring nations to reassess cross-border terror financing.

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Modi Zero Tolerance

India’s Ministry of Home Affairs designated Shahzad Bhatti Network as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on 16 September 2026.
The designation followed a 12 August operation that arrested over 200 suspects across 14 states and recovered IEDs, grenades, pistols and equipment.
The gazette invoked Section 35(1)(a) of UAPA to add SBN as entry 46 in First Schedule.
Home Minister Amit Shah said move reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism.

1 / 4