Archive · 18 Aug 2026
India arrests 200+ ISI-backed Shahzad Bhatti Network operatives
Important police officers in India found out about a group of people who were planning to do bad things.
This group was working for a spy organization in another country called Pakistan.
The leader of the group is named Shahzad Bhatti.
The police arrested more than 200 people from this group.
They did this in many different states all at the same time, just before India's Independence Day.
The police wanted to stop the group from hurting people with bombs.
The group had been involved in bomb blasts and other attacks before.
The police also found that the leader planned attacks on police stations.
The government said it will not allow terrorism and will keep people safe.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that security agencies arrested more than 200 operatives of the Pakistan ISI-backed Shahzad Bhatti Network.
The coordinated operation on August 12 across 14 states led to 253 detentions and over 80 FIRs.
The network was linked to grenade attacks, IED blasts, petrol bomb incidents and targeted killings across India.
Seizures included IEDs, grenades bearing Pakistan Ordnance Factory markings, pistols, live cartridges and CCTV cameras used for espionage.
The NIA is probing Bhatti's alleged links to the March 2025 grenade attack at Roger Sandhu's residence in Jalandhar and explosions at police stations in Sirsa and Ambala, Haryana.
- Who
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Indian security agencies, and the Pakistan ISI-backed Shahzad Bhatti Network.
- What
- Arrest of more than 200 operatives of the Shahzad Bhatti Network in a coordinated counter-terror operation.
- When
- Operation carried out on August 12, ahead of Independence Day; announcement made on Monday.
- Where
- Across 14 states in India, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Gujarat, Bihar, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Kerala.
- Why
- To prevent subversive attacks by the ISI-linked group ahead of Independence Day.
- Operation date
- August 12, ahead of Independence Day
- Total detentions
- 253
- FIRs registered
- Over 80
- States involved
- 14
- Network
- Shahzad Bhatti Network (Pakistan ISI-backed)
- Laws invoked
- UAPA, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Arms Act, NDPS Act, Explosive Substances Act
- Highest detentions
- Uttar Pradesh (62), Haryana (52), Delhi (51), Punjab (44)
- Probing agency
- National Investigation Agency (NIA)
