Pune/Pimpri Chinchwad, 15th July 2026: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has intensified its crackdown on an alleged online network linked to Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti, questioning 66 individuals across Pune city, Pimpri Chinchwad and Pune district over suspected connections with anti-national activities.
As part of the operation, ATS teams, assisted by Pune City Police, Pimpri Chinchwad Police and Pune Rural Police, conducted searches at multiple locations and detained several suspects for questioning.
According to the ATS, intelligence inputs indicated that Bhatti and his associates were allegedly using social media platforms to influence and recruit Indian youth by circulating videos, reels and messages that glorified criminal activities and encouraged anti-national behaviour.
The latest operation follows a statewide crackdown carried out on July 10, during which ATS teams simultaneously raided more than 200 locations across Maharashtra, including Pune, Mumbai and Nagpur.
TuesdayтАЩs action was a continuation of that investigation, focusing on individuals who had allegedly interacted with or engaged with content linked to Bhatti and his associates online.
Five Detained for Questioning in Pimpri Chinchwad
In Pimpri Chinchwad, the local ATS unit detained five young men from different parts of the city for questioning. Two were picked up from Chakan, while one each was detained from Ravet, Wakad and Bhosari.
A police officer said that preliminary investigation revealed the five had liked and shared videos and social media reels of Shahzad Bhatti.
Of the five, three are natives of Uttarakhand, while one each belongs to Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.
Officials said the youths were not found to be in direct contact with the Pakistan-based gangster. However, investigators suspect they were drawn into the online network through social media platforms. Their role and the nature of their online interactions are currently under investigation.
The ATS stated that the operation is part of its ongoing efforts to identify and prevent online radicalisation and anti-national propaganda targeting Indian youth through digital platforms.
The post ATS Questions 66 People Across Pune Region Over Alleged Links to Pakistan-Based Gangster Shahzad Bhatti appeared first on Punekar News.
