Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday, 27 July 2026, declared that the busting of operatives linked to the Shehzad Bhatti Network confirms that ISI-backed groups are actively attempting to destabilise the region, asserting that Assam Police will always prevail against such threats.

Context

In the post, CM Sarma stated: 'We will not allow nefarious designs of the enemy to fructify and harm India. The busting of the operatives of the Shehzad Bhatti Network proves that ISI-backed groups are active in the region, trying to foment trouble.' The statement, punctuated with 'Jai Hind' and the Indian tricolour, was accompanied by a video, suggesting the announcement was tied to a specific operational disclosure by state security forces.

The reference to the Shehzad Bhatti Network points to what authorities are characterising as a structured espionage or subversion cell with alleged links to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). While full operational details are yet to be officially released, the Chief Minister's framing positions the arrest as part of a broader counter-intelligence effort in Assam.

Policy Backdrop

Assam shares a long border with Bangladesh and has historically been a zone of concern for infiltration and external intelligence activity. Between 2018 and 2022, multiple individuals accused of having ISI links were arrested in the state through coordinated action between state police and central agencies, establishing a pattern of such operations.

State-level counter-terrorism efforts in Northeast India are typically conducted in tandem with central bodies including the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB). CM Sarma, who also holds the home portfolio in Assam, has consistently projected internal security as a governance priority, frequently communicating crackdowns on militant and espionage networks through public channels.

The North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), which Sarma convenes, has made regional security coordination a central plank, with member states sharing intelligence on cross-border threats from both Bangladesh and Myanmar corridors.

Stakeholders and Impact

The most immediate stakeholders are residents of Assam and the broader Northeast, for whom external-intelligence-linked networks represent a tangible security concern. The disclosure, if followed by formal charges and a chargesheet, will also engage the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and potentially the NIA, given the cross-border dimension of ISI-linked cases.

For Assam Police, the operation reinforces the force's public profile as an effective counter-espionage unit under CM Sarma's administration. Politically, such announcements also serve to underline the BJP-led government's emphasis on national security as a core governance deliverable in the region.

Civil liberties observers and opposition groups are likely to seek transparency on the evidence underpinning the network designation and the legal process governing the detained operatives.

What's Next

A formal statement from Assam Police detailing the number of arrests, the charges framed, and the operational scope of the Shehzad Bhatti Network is expected to follow. Central agencies may issue a parallel advisory or take cognisance of the case given its alleged foreign-intelligence dimension.

Any escalation in the India-Pakistan diplomatic context — particularly given ongoing tensions — could elevate this case to a national security conversation at the Union Home Ministry level. Observers will watch whether the NIA formally takes over the investigation, which would signal the centre's assessment of the network's scale and reach.