Centre Designates Shahzad Bhatti Network as Terrorist Group Under UAPA

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has designated the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) as a terrorist group under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The decision was conveyed through an official notification issued by the ministry.

In the notification, the ministry stated that the network's terrorist activities pose a serious threat to the democratic system, communal harmony and internal security of the country. The designation brings the outfit within the ambit of the UAPA's provisions against unlawful and terrorist organisations.

The move follows the ministry's assessment of the group's activities and its perceived impact on national security. The notification records the government's view that the network's operations extend beyond isolated incidents and carry implications for the country's democratic and social fabric.

With the designation in place, the Shahzad Bhatti Network joins the list of organisations proscribed under the UAPA. Such a listing enables authorities to take action against the group, its members and those associated with its activities under the law.

The notification does not specify further operational details or the timeline of the group's activities. The ministry's stated grounds for the designation rest on the threat it says the network represents to internal security, communal harmony and the democratic system.