New Delhi, Sept 16: The Centre, on Wednesday, declared the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), placing the Pakistan-based network among organisations formally designated as terrorist outfits under Indian law. A gazette notification issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs invoked Section 35(1)(a) of the UAPA to add SBN to the First Schedule of the Act, which lists organisations designated as terrorist organisations.

SBN is the 46th organisation on the list. The notification said the Centre had taken the decision as it believed that SBN was involved in terrorism and had participated in various acts of terrorism in India.

“Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) is an organisation whose objective is to involve gullible youth and local criminals to smuggle arms, explosives, and narcotics from across the border, and through terrorist activities, pose a serious threat to the democratic system, communal harmony, and internal security of the country,” it said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the action is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism.

“Pursuing PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s vision of zero tolerance against terror, the MHA declares the Shahzad Bhatti Network as a terrorist organisation under the UAPA,” Shah said in a post on social media. “The group is involved in smuggling of arms, explosives and narcotics across borders, apart from inciting youths and petty criminals into terrorism.

Targeting India’s democratic structure and the fabric of communal harmony, the syndicate also published hateful digital content,” he added. The gazette notification further alleged that SBN promoted terrorism through violent activities aimed at disrupting public order and used digital communication platforms to disseminate provocative messages.

Several criminal cases have been registered against alleged SBN cadres in different jurisdictions, with provisions of the UAPA, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Arms Act, Explosives Act, Information Technology Act and Prevention of Defacement of Property Act invoked in the cases, the notification added. The move comes against the backdrop of a nationwide crackdown on the network.

The MHA had said in August that security agencies had arrested more than 200 alleged SBN operatives across 14 states during coordinated operations ahead of Independence Day. In Assam, the State Special Task Force has also been pursuing the network and have arrested five people in connection with the network.