New Delhi, 16 September (H.S.): The Central Government has designated the Pakistan-based Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. Through a Gazette notification, the government has amended the First Schedule of the UAPA and included the Shahzad Bhatti Network in the list of terrorist organisations as serial number 46. The notification was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on September 16, 2026.

In an official post on social media platform X, the office of Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policy of “zero tolerance” towards terrorism, the Ministry of Home Affairs has designated the Shahzad Bhatti Network as a terrorist organisation under the UAPA.

The Shahzad Bhatti Network has been accused of involvement in the cross-border smuggling of arms, explosives and narcotics, as well as of luring and radicalising youth and local criminals towards terrorist activities. The syndicate has also been accused of targeting India’s democratic system and communal harmony and of disseminating provocative and hateful digital content.

According to the Gazette notification, the objective of the Shahzad Bhatti Network is to involve impressionable youth and local criminals in the smuggling of arms, explosives and narcotics from across the border and, through terrorist activities, pose a serious threat to the country’s democratic system, communal harmony and internal security. The notification also refers to several criminal cases registered against members of the network in different jurisdictions under various laws.

The notification further states that the network has been involved in radicalising impressionable youth by offering various inducements, motivating them to engage in anti-national activities and mobilising resources for such activities in collusion with other banned organisations and designated entities. The government has also stated that the network has used digital communication platforms to disseminate provocative messages and content.

The Central Government has exercised its powers under Section 35(1)(a) of the UAPA to amend the Act’s First Schedule. Accordingly, a new entry has been inserted after serial number 45, adding “46. Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN)” to the list of terrorist organisations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar