The Uttar Pradesh Police have sought the Centre’s approval to designate Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti and his network as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, citing its alleged links with anti-national and terror activities, confirmed additional director general (law and order), UP, Amitabh Yash on Thursday.
Police investigations have revealed that members of the network allegedly encouraged recruits to threaten or target ex-Muslims, Hindu religious leaders, politicians and police personnel, besides carrying out attacks on BJP/RSS offices, police stations and other sensitive establishments with bombs, grenades and petrol bombs to create terror. Pistols, live cartridges, knives, inflammable liquids and objectionable posters were among the items allegedly recovered from those arrested. Several of the cases invoke provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Arms Act and the UAPA, while two cases also invoke the Official Secrets Act.
In July, the UP Police also wrote to the Union home ministry seeking action under Section 35(1)(a) read with Section 35(2) of the UAPA. As part of the statewide operation on May 26, carried out jointly with central investigative agencies, around 175 suspects linked to the Shahzad Bhatti network were examined. Since then, the UP Police have registered 12 cases and arrested 52 accused, according to details shared by the ADG. The 12 cases include eight registered by the UP ATS in Lucknow and cases registered in Hapur, Kaushambi under the Trans-Hindon Commissionerate of Ghaziabad, Bijnor’s Kiratpur and Nagal police stations.
It requested the Centre to exercise its powers to include the Shahzad Bhatti network and its members in the Fourth Schedule of the Act by declaring them terrorists, the ADG said. Investigators also found that recruits were allegedly first made to undertake smaller terror-related activities—including extortion, arson, issuing threats, putting up jihadi posters and throwing petrol bombs—before attempts were made to involve them in larger terror attacks, the police said. The UP Police and its specialised units, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Special Task Force (STF), have been developing intelligence received from central agencies and their own intelligence platforms to act against the network, the document said. Police said important information emerged during the operation, following which cases were registered and further legal action initiated.
