Delhi: Three Terror Operatives Linked to Pakistan-Backed Shahzad Bhatti Arrested; Remote Recruitment of Youth Exposed

New Delhi: The Special Cell of Delhi Police has arrested three terrorists connected to the international and interstate terror module run by Shahzad Bhatti, a gangster-turned-terrorist from Pakistan, backed by ISI. These operatives were involved in the November 25 grenade attack outside the City Police Station in Gurdaspur, Punjab.

The arrested have been identified as Vikas Prajapati alias Bettu from Datia, Madhya Pradesh; Hargunpreet Singh from Firozpur, Punjab; and Asif from Machhmar village, Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh. Investigations recovered a semi-automatic pistol, 10 cartridges, mobile phones containing objectionable chats with Pakistani handlers, and reconnaissance videos of attack sites from them.

Remote Recruitment via Social Media
Sources revealed that Vikas Prajapati, previously wanted for weapons trafficking, was in continuous contact with Bhatti through social media platforms. Bhatti instructed him to turn off his phone for safety. After 48 hours of continuous search and source-based intelligence, Prajapati was tracked and arrested in Indergarh, Datia. Following his identification, Hargunpreet and Asif were also arrested. Interrogation revealed that Bhatti and his associates were actively recruiting youth through social media.

Grenade Parcel and Attack Execution
Prajaapati, who worked as a laborer in Datia, was influenced by Bhatti’s social media image and agreed to carry out instructions for money. Bhatti sent him a parcel containing a grenade and guided him through video calls on activating it. Prajapati helped Hargunpreet and Asif receive the grenade and assisted in arranging transport for the operation. On November 25, the grenade was thrown outside Gurdaspur Police Station as per Bhatti’s instructions.

Background of Shahzad Bhatti
Shahzad Bhatti, a notorious figure from Balochistan, Pakistan, previously associated with the Farooq Khokhar gang, now operates an international gangster and terror module from Dubai with ISI support. His operations include hawala, contract killings, threats, arms trafficking, and spreading fear through social media. Bhatti has also been actively recruiting Indian youth for his network.

Rising Threat Level
Bhatti’s name has been rapidly climbing India’s top-wanted list. Intelligence sources say he once had close ties with Lawrence Bishnoi, with whom he shared a reportedly friendly video call last year. However, tensions rose after the Pahalgam terror attack, and Bhatti became increasingly hostile towards Bishnoi, now reportedly “thirsting for Bishnoi’s blood”. Last year, Bhatti even threatened Bollywood actor Mithun Chakraborty. His growing influence and Pakistan-backed operations pose a serious threat to national security.