The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) launched a sweeping statewide operation on Wednesday, 13 May, interrogating 57 individuals suspected of links to Pakistan-based gangster networks, including the Shahzad Bhatti gang and the Dogra gang, according to officials. Coordinated raids began at approximately 8 am across Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nalasopara, Mira Road, Akola, Nanded, Nashik, and Jalgaon.

Scope of the Operation

The ATS deployed several teams simultaneously across multiple cities and districts in Maharashtra as part of what officials described as a major crackdown aimed at dismantling alleged gangster-linked networks operating within the state. The operation targets individuals suspected of maintaining direct or indirect connections with Pakistan-based criminal organisations.

During the raids, ATS teams seized laptops, mobile phones, pen drives, and other electronic gadgets from locations associated with the suspects. Investigators are also scrutinising the bank accounts and financial transactions of those being questioned to determine whether funds were allegedly being routed from Pakistan or other foreign locations through illegal hawala channels.

Social Media Recruitment and Sleeper Cells

According to investigative agencies, intelligence inputs gathered over a period of time indicated that gangsters operating from across the border were allegedly using social media platforms to influence and recruit youths from Maharashtra into their criminal networks. Officials claimed these groups allegedly targeted local youths by luring them with promises of a luxurious lifestyle and financial gains.

The ATS operation is primarily focused on identifying sleeper cells, local operatives, and possible support systems connected to these gangs, so that potential arms smuggling or larger conspiracies can be prevented before taking shape, officials said. Digital evidence recovered during the searches is being analysed to establish the full extent of the alleged network and identify additional individuals who may have been in contact with the gangsters or associated modules.

Who Is Shahzad Bhatti

Shahzad Bhatti, a Lahore-based gangster, has allegedly been operating out of Dubai for several years, frequently travelling between Pakistan, the UAE, and other countries in the Middle East, according to investigating agencies. His name has surfaced repeatedly in multiple investigations linked to terror recruitment, radicalisation, and espionage activities in India over the past several months. More than a dozen cases have reportedly been registered against him by various agencies, and Indian authorities are now reportedly prioritising efforts to secure his extradition.

What Happens Next

The ATS has not yet disclosed the exact number of individuals formally detained in connection with the operation. Further investigation into the alleged activities and possible interstate or international links of the suspected network is currently underway, officials said. The probe is expected to widen as digital evidence is analysed and financial trails are traced.