Centre Declares Shahzad Bhatti Network a Terrorist Organisation
What Happened
The Ministry of Home Affairs has declared the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and added it to the Act’s First Schedule of banned terror outfits. The government said the network was involved in smuggling arms, explosives and narcotics across the border, radicalising youth, mobilising resources for anti-national activities, and spreading provocative content through digital platforms.
Key Takeaways
The move strengthens India's legal framework to act against individuals and entities linked to the network, including alleged terror financing, recruitment and cross-border operations. The decision reflects the government's "zero tolerance against terror" approach and follows recent nationwide crackdowns on suspected SBN-linked operatives across multiple states.