New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a case to investigate an alleged conspiracy by Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti and suspected Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) operatives to radicalise Indian youths through social media and recruit them for terrorist activities.
The central agency has taken over the investigation from the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), which registered a case in April this year.
The NIA has named eight accused in its FIR, including Bhatti, who is alleged to have links with Pakistan’s intelligence agency.
The Centre declared the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in September.
The government said the network was involved in terrorist activities, including the smuggling of arms, explosives and narcotics, and attempts to recruit youths for extremist activities.
Others named in the FIR include Md Hamad Barkati, Abid Jatt, Major Hamid, Major Iqbal and Major Anwar, who are alleged to be Pakistan-based operatives.
The agency has also named Tushar Chauhan, alias Hijbullah Ali Khan, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, and Sameer, a Delhi resident.
Both were arrested by the UP ATS in April.
According to investigators, the two accused were allegedly in direct contact with Pakistan-based operatives and were planning a major disruptive act.
The UP ATS investigation indicated that Bhatti, Jatt and certain Pakistan-based YouTubers were allegedly attempting to radicalise Indian youths through social media platforms.
Investigators suspect that the network sought to recruit youths by offering financial incentives to carry out activities aimed at disturbing communal harmony and public order.
Uttar Pradesh Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash had earlier said the alleged recruitment attempts were being made at the behest of Pakistan’s intelligence agency.
The NIA will examine the suspected cross-border links, online recruitment methods and the alleged conspiracy to carry out terrorist activities in India.
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