The Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad mentioned on Tuesday (July 14, 2026) that it was questioning 66 youths in Pune whom it suspects to have hyperlinks with Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti and his associates Abid Jat alias Abid Chhal, Ajmal Gujar, Hammad Memon, Rana Hunnain, and Ashraf Bashir Alam. The company suspects these individuals are misusing social media to broaden their community in India.
“Discontent is being unfold among the many Indian youth. They’re being brainwashed. Those that belong to economically weaker sections are being lured with cash to take part in anti-national actions,” an ATS officer mentioned. He added that the gang was working to create sleeper cells and brokers on the native stage.
“We have now undertaken this motion (of questioning the 66 individuals) on the suspicion that Shahzad Bhatti was forcing these youth into anti-national actions by means of the usage of social media,” the officer added.
The operation started at 7 a.m. and was carried out with the help of the Pune metropolis police, Pune rural police, and Pimpri Chinchwad police.
The company mentioned that the gangsters have been allegedly utilizing social media platforms like Fb, Instagram, Telegram, and WhatsApp to ascertain contact with Indian youths. They allegedly tried to take advantage of spiritual and socially delicate points to unfold propaganda and affect them.
The ATS has issued an advisory to oldsters asking them to observe youngsters’s social media use so they don’t have interaction with unknown individuals. The company has requested mother and father to observe their behaviour and alert the company. It has appealed to everybody to keep away from contacting unknown or suspicious individuals on social media platforms.
Revealed – July 14, 2026 10:10 pm IST
