Police special cell busts Pakistan-backed terror modules linked to Shahzad Bhatti network; 6 held
In a counter-terrorism operation, the Delhi Police Special Cell broke up two suspected Pakistan-backed groups connected to the Shahzad Bhatti network and arrested six people. Police say the suspects were planning a terror attack in Delhi and were involved in smuggling illegal weapons across the country.
According to police, one group was supposed to attack a key site or police building in Delhi using petrol bombs. The other group focused on moving advanced firearms that were reportedly smuggled from Pakistan into India using drones. This operation highlights the ongoing risk posed by cross-border terrorist networks targeting the capital. capital.
These arrests come at a time when security agencies are on high alert for groups that mix local recruits with handlers based in Pakistan.
Special Cell sources say the operation followed ongoing intelligence work and technical surveillance. Police raided several locations and arrested six people believed to be part of two connected groups.
Early questioning suggests the suspects were getting instructions from handlers in Pakistan linked to Shahzad Bhatti, who is suspected of running terror and crime networks with ties to Pakistan’s intelligence agencies.
Additional Commissioner of Police, Special Cell, Pramod Kushwah said, “The first group was given the job of carrying out an attack using petrol bombs, with targets including important Government buildings or police stations in Delhi. Members of this group were reportedly working on logistics, scouting locations, and planning the timing of the attack. The second group focused on arms trafficking. This group received and distributed advanced firearms smuggled from Pakistan, mainly through drones along the Punjab border. Smuggling by drone has become a major challenge for border security, as it allows handlers to avoid checkpoints and deliver packages directly to designated locations before moving them to cities like Delhi”.
Both groups were part of the larger Shahzad Bhatti network. Investigators describe Bhatti as a Pakistan-based operative accused of organising several terror and crime activities against India.
The six people arrested are still in police custody, and more questioning is expected to reveal further details about the wider plot, Kushwah added.
Cases have been filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and other laws related to terrorism, arms smuggling, and conspiracy.
Senior police officers said this operation shows how tactics are changing, with direct attack planning now combined with crimes like arms and drug trafficking to support these networks. Using drones for smuggling is a new method meant to avoid detection.
Security analysts called the operation a timely move that likely prevented potential loss of life and disruption in Delhi. The case underscores the need for ongoing interagency collaboration, enhanced surveillance, and robust border controls to combat these threats.
Delhi Police have asked the public to stay alert and report anything suspicious. The investigation is still underway, and more arrests may happen as it continues.
This development occurs as Indian security forces continue to dismantle several Pakistan-linked modules across various states. The Special Cell’s success in this case reinforces its reputation for proactive, intelligence-driven operations against urban terror threats.
Authorities have not ruled out the possibility that the arrested operatives were part of a larger network spanning multiple states.
