New Delhi, May 30 (H.S.): In a major intelligence-led operation, the Delhi Police Special Cell has uncovered an international terror-criminal network linked to Pakistan's intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the Mumbai underworld, and Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti. Police have arrested eight accused associated with the module, with connections spanning Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Delhi, Punjab, and Nepal.

Authorities recovered four hand grenades manufactured by the Pakistan Ordnance Factory, two Glock pistols, 24 live cartridges, a stolen motorcycle, a stolen scooter, and mobile phones containing conversations with Pakistan-based handlers.

According to Delhi Police, the network was allegedly plotting grenade attacks and shootings targeting key government installations, security establishments, and police personnel in Delhi, Mumbai, Punjab, and Chandigarh. A case has been registered against the accused under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Special Commissioner of Police Anil Shukla said the Special Cell had received intelligence inputs indicating that handlers linked to the Shahzad Bhatti network and the ISI, operating from Pakistan and Dubai, were planning terrorist and criminal activities in India.

Following the intelligence inputs, teams led by ACP Vivek Kumar Tyagi, Inspector Sunil Rajain, and Inspector Dheeraj Mehlawat launched a coordinated operation involving technical surveillance and human intelligence to monitor the network's activities.

The first breakthrough came on May 14, 2026, when police arrested Vijay alias Shooter (23), a resident of Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, from Pune, Maharashtra.

According to investigators, Vijay was in continuous contact with members of the Shahzad Bhatti network based in Pakistan and Dubai. He had allegedly been assigned the responsibility of coordinating terrorist and criminal activities across Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. He was also tasked with recruiting young individuals to carry out attacks in the Delhi-NCR region.

Subsequently, on May 17, his associate Nitish Paswan (23) was arrested from Sahibganj, Jharkhand.

Based on the interrogation of Vijay and Nitish, along with technical analysis, police arrested two more accused from Mumbai on May 27 — Toukir Rizwan Ahmed Sheikh (27) and Sajid Mahboob Sheikh alias Arbaaz Khan (27).

Investigators found that both men were allegedly in contact with Pakistan-based ISI handler Yawar Khan and underworld operative Munna Jhingada. They were reportedly recruited by an individual identified as Husaifa, who is currently absconding.

Police said Husaifa was operating under the directions of Shahzad Bhatti, Yawar Khan, and Munna Jhingada. The two accused were allegedly assigned the task of carrying out grenade attacks and shootings against security establishments, police personnel, and other strategic targets in Delhi and Mumbai.

Punjab Module Busted in Delhi

During interrogation, the Mumbai-based accused revealed that another team from Punjab was on its way to Delhi under instructions from the same network.

Acting on this information, Special Cell officers laid a trap on the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road at around 1 a.m. on May 29 and arrested three Punjab-based suspects — Harvinder Singh (28), Gagandeep Singh (28), and Manjeet Singh (23).

All three are residents of Ludhiana and were allegedly preparing to target sensitive locations and security personnel in Delhi. A substantial cache of weapons and ammunition was recovered from their possession.

Further interrogation of the Punjab-based accused and technical investigation led police to Ang Kami Lama (66), a Nepalese national residing in Sherpa Colony, Kathmandu, who was subsequently arrested.

Investigators alleged that Lama had been assigned the responsibility of arranging safe houses and providing financial assistance to the accused in Delhi under instructions from Munna Jhingada.

Police said Lama had been imprisoned in Thailand between 2001 and 2018 in a narcotics-related case. During his incarceration, he reportedly came into contact with Pakistani nationals Ejaz Rasool and Mohammad Saleem alias Munna Jhingada. Even after his release, he remained in contact with Jhingada and eventually became part of the network.

According to police, the entire module was being operated by Pakistan-based underworld figures Munna Jhingada, Shahzad Bhatti, and other handlers linked to the ISI.

Munna Jhingada is believed to be a close associate of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Police said he had allegedly participated in an attack on Chhota Rajan in Bangkok in 2000 at Dawood's behest and subsequently spent 17 years in a Thai prison in connection with the case.

Investigators have concluded that the network's objective was to spread fear and instability by targeting key government establishments, security institutions, and police personnel in Delhi, Mumbai, Punjab, and Chandigarh.

Several leads relating to reconnaissance activities and videography of sensitive locations have also been recovered from the mobile phones seized from the accused.

Special Commissioner Anil Shukla stated that timely intervention by the Special Cell had successfully dismantled the module before any attack could be executed. He added that investigations have revealed additional international links, including connections extending into Nepal and potentially other countries. Efforts are currently underway to identify and apprehend other individuals associated with the network.

Police believe this operation represents one of the most significant crackdowns in recent years against a network allegedly linked to the ISI and the transnational underworld.

Recoveries Made from the Accused

Police recovered the following items from the possession of the accused:

-Four hand grenades manufactured by the

Pakistan Ordnance Factory

-Two Glock pistols

-Twenty-four live cartridges of Pakistani origin

-One stolen Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle

-One stolen Honda Activa scooter

-Mobile phones containing chats and communications with Pakistan-based handlers

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are pursuing additional leads connected to the broader network.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar