Indian security agencies arrested 253 operatives [1] in a coordinated crackdown targeting the ISI-backed Shahzad Bhatti Network across 14 states [1].
The operation aimed to thwart subversive attacks planned around India's Independence Day. The scale of the arrests suggests a wide-reaching espionage and terror infrastructure operating within Indian borders.
Police and intelligence forces carried out the raids on Aug. 12, 2024 [5], just days before the national holiday on Aug. 15, 2024 [6]. While some reports state more than 200 people were detained [2], other records specify the number at 253 [1].
Authorities seized a variety of weaponry and tactical gear during the raids. The recovered items included improvised explosive devices, grenades, pistols, and live ammunition. Security forces also recovered espionage equipment used by the network to gather intelligence [3].
The legal response to the crackdown was swift, with officials registering over 80 first-information reports (FIRs) [4]. These filings document the suspected activities of the operatives across the 14 affected states [1].
Security agencies identified the group as the Shahzad Bhatti Network, which they said was backed by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) [1]. The coordinated nature of the arrests indicates a high level of intelligence gathering by Indian forces prior to the Aug. 12 operations [5].
“Indian security agencies arrested 253 operatives in a coordinated crackdown”
This operation reflects a strategic effort by Indian intelligence to dismantle sleeper cells before high-profile national events. The involvement of 14 different states indicates that the Shahzad Bhatti Network had established a broad geographical footprint, shifting the security focus from border regions to internal urban hubs.
