The Maharashtra Anti‑Terrorism Squad (ATS) launched a massive, state‑wide operation on Friday aimed at dismantling a radicalisation network financed and directed by Pakistan’s Inter‑Services Intelligence (ISI). According to senior ATS officials, more than two hundred individuals across multiple cities have either liked, commented on, or otherwise interacted with suspicious social‑media pages run by Pakistan‑based operatives.

Operation Overview

Building on a similar sweep in May that covered about 40 locations, the current drive focuses on precise intelligence. Teams descended on homes and offices in Mumbai, Pune, Ratnagiri and surrounding districts, seizing mobile devices and issuing stern warnings to prevent exploitation by Pakistani handlers. Four residents from Pune’s Chakan, Warje and Shirur neighborhoods were questioned, though no FIRs have been filed yet.

Background and International Context

The network allegedly operates under the direction of Pakistani gangsters Shahzad Bhatti, Amjal Gujjar, Abit Jat, Rana Husen, Abdul Menon, Farooq Khokar, Zafar Supari, Shani Tiger, Sheikh Salman, Sarfaraz Dongar (alias Jorasingh), Abu Musa, Sarkar and Munna Jhingada (alias Syed Hussain – a Dawood Ibrahim associate). Their strategy relies on social‑media platforms to identify Indian citizens expressing dissent against government actions, then gradually indoctrinate them into larger disruptive tasks.

Potential Security Implications

Security analysts warn that such online grooming often begins with low‑risk tasks, escalating to coordinated attacks on critical infrastructure. Delhi Police’s Special Cell has already arrested suspects from Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir linked to Bhatti’s network, who allegedly plotted attacks on a historic Delhi temple, a Haryana military installation, and drone‑based drug‑weapon drops in Punjab border areas. In March 2024, Bhatti was implicated in a grenade blast near YouTuber Rozer Sandhu’s residence in Jalandhar, underscoring the network’s willingness to use violence.

Future Outlook

ATS officials state that raids will continue for the next few days to root out any remaining operatives. Experts view the operation as a decisive step in countering foreign‑backed digital radicalisation, signalling that India will not tolerate the exploitation of its youth through covert ISI channels.