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The Ministry of Home Affairs declared the Shahzad Bhatti Network a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, announced by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on 16 September 2026.
The Home Minister said the group smuggles arms, explosives and narcotics across borders and draws youths and petty criminals into terrorism.
The syndicate was also accused of publishing hateful digital content aimed at India's democratic structure and communal harmony.
The network was inserted at serial number 46 of the First Schedule of the UAPA, which carries the list of designated terrorist organisations.
Designation is made by the Central Government under Section 35 of the UAPA by notification in the Official Gazette, without any prior charge, trial or conviction.
India's principal anti-terror law. It deals with two distinct categories - 'unlawful associations', banned under Section 3 with the ban referred to a Tribunal, and 'terrorist organisations', added to the First Schedule by the Central Government under Section 35. The Shahzad Bhatti Network falls in the second category.
Empowers the Central Government to amend the Schedule by notification in the Official Gazette so as to add or remove an organisation, if it believes the organisation is involved in terrorism. No prior charge, trial or conviction is required.
Amended Sections 35 and 36 to let the Central Government designate an INDIVIDUAL as a terrorist, listed in the Fourth Schedule - before 2019 only organisations could be designated. It also widened the powers of the National Investigation Agency in the Act's seizure provisions.
Enacted on 31 December 2008 in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, it created the NIA and the Special Courts that try scheduled offences, including UAPA offences. The NIA (Amendment) Act, 2019 gave the agency extra-territorial jurisdiction over scheduled offences affecting Indian citizens or interests committed abroad, and added human trafficking, counterfeit currency and cyber-terrorism to its schedule.
An 'unlawful association' is banned by notification under Section 3, and that ban must be confirmed by the UAPA Tribunal. A 'terrorist organisation' is added to the First Schedule under Section 35 by the executive alone - no Tribunal confirmation is required, and removal is sought by application under Section 36.
Simple Analogy: One ban goes to a judge for confirmation; the other does not.
Issues the Section 35 notification designating a terrorist organisation and maintains the First and Fourth Schedules of the UAPA.
India's central counter-terrorism investigating agency; investigates and prosecutes offences against the sovereignty, security and integrity of India listed in the schedule to its Act, including UAPA offences.
Adjudicates whether there is sufficient cause to declare an ASSOCIATION unlawful. The Centre must refer its notification to the Tribunal within 30 days; the Tribunal gives the association 30 days to show cause and decides the reference within six months.
GS Paper 3 > Internal Security > Terrorism and Linkages of Organised Crime with Terrorism
General Awareness > Polity and Current Affairs
An entity added by the Central Government to the First Schedule of the UAPA under Section 35, after which membership, fundraising and support for it become punishable offences.
A body banned under Section 3 of the UAPA; unlike a terrorist designation, the ban must be referred to and confirmed by the UAPA Tribunal.
An offence listed in the schedule to the NIA Act, 2008, which the National Investigation Agency may take up suo motu or on the Centre's direction.