Maharashtra ATS raids multiple locations over alleged links to Pakistan-based ISI handler

The Maharashtra AntiTerrorism Squad ATS on Friday conducted searches at multiple locations across the state as part of an investigation into the alleged social media links of several individuals with Pakistanbased alleged ISI handler Shahzad Bhatti officials saidAccording to the ATS search operations were carried out in Mumbai Thane Kurla Bandra Jogeshwari Navi Mumbai Mira Road Bhayandar Sangli Satara and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar among other locationsOfficials said the action was initiated against individuals who allegedly remained in contact with Bhatti through social media platformsOver 100 people questioned in statewide operationThe Maharashtra ATS launched a coordinated operation involving teams from all 14 units across the state Officials said 112 people allegedly linked to Bhatti were questioned as part of the ongoing investigationAccording to preliminary information investigators suspect that Bhatti allegedly used social media platforms to influence youths and involve them in activities against national securityATS officials said the identified individuals were being questioned to determine the nature of their communication and possible links with the Pakistanbased networkFurther details regarding the outcome of the searches and questioning are awaitedDelhi Police earlier busted alleged modules linked to BhattiThe Maharashtra ATS action comes after the Delhi Police Special Cell on Wednesday busted two alleged modules linked to Shahzad Bhatti and arrested six suspected operatives from Delhi and PunjabThe interrogation of the accused revealed an alleged conspiracy to carry out petrol bomb attacks at important locations in the national capital on Bhattirsquos instructionsInvestigators said the accused had allegedly conducted reconnaissance of New Police Lines in Civil Lines Anand Vihar InterState Bus Terminal ISBT a railway station and crowded market areas in DelhiVideos of these locations were allegedly found on their mobile phones and were shared with Bhatti through a banned messaging application officials saidInvestigators examine alleged crossborder networkSources said social media chats recovered during the probe showed Bhatti allegedly instructing one of the accused Danish alias Chand Miyan about the delivery and storage of material which investigators suspect referred to petrol bombs meant for the planned attacksThe Delhi Police Special Cell had earlier recovered petrol bombs from Vijay Ghat behind Rajghat during the investigationInvestigators said the six arrested accused were also allegedly in contact with 10 other Pakistanbased individuals believed to be working for BhattiProbe continues into alleged weapons supply networkAccording to investigators Danish alias Chand Miyan was allegedly assigned the task of conducting reconnaissance and planning attacks in Delhi and was promised Rs 20000 after carrying out the operation His associate Salman was allegedly responsible for recording the attack and sending the footage to BhattiOfficials said another accused Tayyab allegedly handled the receipt and sale of a weapons consignment while Zubair Khan allegedly transported the consignment from AmritsarInvestigators further alleged that Ali Fazal was responsible for selling the weapons while Malkit Singh acted as a key link in supplying weapons dropped from Pakistan through drones before they were distributed to other members of the network