UPATS stepped up efforts to disrupt the alleged Shahzad Bhatti network in the state, with investigators questioning around 24 people in ten districts and examining their social-media activity, mobile communications and contacts, officials familiar with the investigation said.
The ATS has previously arrested 52 suspects in the past four months in cases involving alleged terrorist activities linked to the network, according to information cited by officials.
Officials said around two dozen individuals have been identified for scrutiny on the basis of information gathered during earlier investigations and interrogations of arrested suspects.
Shahzad Bhatti is a Pakistan-based gangster-turned-terror suspect who has been under investigation by Indian security agencies for alleged cross-border criminal and terror activities. Investigators have linked his network to grenade, IED and petrol-bomb attacks, targeted killings and reconnaissance of sensitive locations in India. He has been named in investigations into attacks in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
Lucknow : The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has stepped up efforts to disrupt the alleged Shahzad Bhatti network in the state, with investigators questioning around 24 people in 10 districts and examining their social media activity, mobile communications and contacts, officials familiar with the investigation said.
“Of the total 24, 18 have been let off after warning, while gadgets of six others are still being scrutinised,” said an official privy to the probe. The operation continued till the last reports came in.