Over 40 modules of Shahzad Bhatti network busted, 350 held across 15 States: Amit Shah
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the inaugural session of the Prahar National Counter Terrorism Policy and Strategy Conference. | Photo Credit: PTI
More than 40 modules linked to the Shahzad Bhatti network, allegedly involved in cross-border smuggling of weapons, explosives and narcotics, have been busted and 350 people arrested across 15 States, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday (September 28, 2026).
Mr. Shah said more than 100 First Information Reports had been registered against members of the network and that the Union Government had declared the Shahzad Bhatti network a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Bhatti is a Pakistani social media influencer.
Mr. Shah launched a new Extradition Portal, which, according to the Home Ministry, is intended to coordinate and expedite efforts to bring fugitives back to India from abroad. He asked State police forces to form dedicated teams that could work with the Central agencies on extradition and other mechanisms for securing the return of fugitives.
He was speaking at the inauguration of a conference on ‘PRAHAAR – Counter Terrorsim Policy and Strategy’ in Delhi. The conference brought together senior officials from the Centre and the States to discuss the government’s counter-terrorism strategy. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan; Director, Intelligence Bureau, Mahesh Dixit; Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri; heads of Central Armed Police Forces and Central Police Organisations; Directors General of Police of 15 States and Anti-Terrorism Squad chiefs of all States and Union Territories were present. Other State police chiefs and field-level police officers joined virtually.
Mr. Shah attributed the action against the network to improved coordination between security and investigating agencies. He said the government had adopted a “zero-tolerance” policy against all forms and manifestations of terrorism and called for closer coordination among stakeholders to ensure there was no delay in counter-terrorism operations.
The Home Minister also said 288 fugitive criminals had been brought back to India from 36 countries between 2019 and 2026.
The PRAHAAR strategy rests on seven pillars: Prevention, Response, Aggregating Internal Capacities, Human Rights, Attenuating Conditions for Terrorism, Aligning International Efforts, and Recovery and Resilience.
Mr. Shah called for the strategy to be strengthened through continuous analysis of terror incidents and said a “strong and concrete” mechanism should be developed for the next 10 years.
He also stressed that the principles of PRAHAAR should percolate down to the police station level and asked police forces to take a proactive approach. Counter-terrorism responses should be institutionalised and automated at every level of the security framework.
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