Centre bans Shahzad Bhatti Network under UAPA

The Centre has declared Pakistan-based Shahzad Bhatti Network a terrorist organisation under the UAPA. Home Minister Amit Shah said the group was involved in smuggling arms, explosives and narcotics, radicalising youth and criminals, and spreading provocative digital content

New Delhi: The government has declared Pakistan-based Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Wednesday.

Shah said the action was taken in pursuit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of zero tolerance against terror.

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“The group is involved in smuggling of arms, explosives and narcotics across borders, apart from inciting youths and petty criminals into terrorism. Targeting India’s democratic structure and the fabric of communal harmony, the syndicate also published hateful digital content,” the minister said on X.

A gazette notification issued by the Union Home Ministry on Wednesday invoked Section 35(1)(a) of the UAPA to add “Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN)” to the First Schedule of the Act, which lists banned terrorist organisations.

The action was taken as the Centre believes that SBN was involved in “terrorism and has participated in various acts of terrorism in India”.

“‘Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN)’ is an organisation whose objective is to involve gullible youth and local criminals to smuggle arms, explosives, and narcotics from across the border, and through terrorist activities, pose a serious threat to the democratic system, communal harmony, and internal security of the country,” the notification said.

The notification cited criminal cases against alleged SBN members under laws such as the UAPA, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Arms Act, Explosives Act, Information Technology Act and Prevention of Defacement of Property Act.

Under the UAPA, the addition of an outfit to the First Schedule formally places it among organisations designated as “terrorist” under Indian law. SBN is the 46th entry on the list.

According to the notification, SBN is involved in “radicalising gullible youth” by offering allurements, motivating them for anti-national activities and mobilising resources for anti-national acts in collusion with other banned outfits and similarly designated entities.

“And whereas, the ‘Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN)’ is promoting terrorism through violent activities that disrupt public order and by using various digital communication platforms to disseminate provocative messages, posing a serious challenge to the integrity of the nation,” the notification read.