Telangana: 2 Arrested For Links To Pak Based SBN
The suspects were picked up from Yousufguda and Medchal on August 14, a day before Independence Day, for their alleged nexus with SBN: Reports
HYDERABAD: Two supporters of the Shehzad Bhatti Network (SBN), which has roots in Pakistan’s ISI, were arrested by Telangana and central agencies in Hyderabad after being intercepted on social media for alleged anti‑national chats.
The suspects were picked up from Yousufguda and Medchal on August 14, a day before Independence Day, for their alleged nexus with SBN. They were detained for questioning over their links with the network.
Union home minister Amit Shah announced that 253 people from 14 states have been arrested in cases of conspiring to commit terror attacks in India. Reliable sources said that among the 14 suspects referred to by the minister were Zaid Khan (22) from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, and another youth from Rajasthan, both linked to SBN.
Zaid Khan had visited Medchal in February this year and worked as a waiter at a local restaurant. He came into contact with ISI sympathisers Habib and Rana Hussain through Instagram reels, sources disclosed. The agencies tracked their chats with other SBN operatives. Telangana’s Counter Intelligence Cell (CI‑Cell) arrested Zaid on May 23. Another youth from Rajasthan, employed at a sweet shop in Yousufguda, was caught again on August 12 after being found chatting with ISI sympathisers following Zaid’s release.
The CI‑Cell and national agencies are probing further in coordination with other state police.
Sources said the modus operandi of Pakistan‑based handler Shehzad Bhatti is to exploit social media platforms to target vulnerable, unemployed youth, initially paying small sums for tasks such as reconnaissance and surveillance.
Across the country, 253 suspects have been detained in 14 states, leading to over 80 FIRs and 210 formal arrests for questioning, sources added.
