The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Tuesday carried out coordinated raids in Pune and neighbouring Pimpri-Chinchwad as part of an investigation into alleged links with Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti, who is suspected of running a recruitment network targeting Indian youth.
The searches are part of an ongoing probe into individuals believed to be connected to Bhatti’s alleged network. Several ATS teams fanned out across different locations in Maharashtra, and some suspected persons have been taken into custody for questioning, officials said.
ATS investigates alleged social media recruitment network
According to the Maharashtra ATS, Bhatti and his associates allegedly used social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and WhatsApp, to contact and recruit young people.
An ATS official said search operations and questioning of suspects were continuing as part of the investigation. The agency has not yet disclosed the number of locations searched or the identities of those being questioned.
The operation remained underway at the time of filing, with more details expected from the ATS.
Intelligence agencies track alleged state-wise recruitment strategy
According to intelligence inputs, Bhatti has emerged as an alleged operative working for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to carry out a recruitment campaign in India aimed at fuelling terrorism.
Officials believe the network has been active for several months.
Intelligence agencies also allege that Bhatti changes the geographical focus of his recruitment efforts to avoid detection. His alleged network had earlier concentrated on Uttar Pradesh before shifting its activities to Maharashtra after security agencies began tracking its operations.
An Intelligence Bureau official said the alleged ISI-backed network avoids nationwide recruitment drives and instead targets youth in one state at a time.
“They are not indulging in pan-India recruitments. They are targeting youth from one state at a time, and this helps them evade the security agencies,” the official said.