Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 17: The Delhi Police Special Cell's Eastern Range unit has busted an alleged Pakistan-backed international terror module and arrested seven persons linked to a criminal-terror network reportedly operated by gangster-turned-terrorist Shahzad Bhatti and his associate Ajmal Gujjar.
According to police, the operation thwarted multiple planned terror incidents across the Delhi-NCR region. Investigators alleged that the network was functioning under the direction of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and was using criminal syndicates as proxy operators within India.
Police said intelligence inputs received in May indicated that Bhatti and Gujjar were recruiting youths through social media platforms to carry out terror-related activities. Acting on the information, Special Cell officials apprehended Mohit, a resident of Loni in Ghaziabad, near the Bhagirath Water Treatment Plant in Yamuna Vihar, Delhi.
During the arrest, police recovered an illegal pistol, four live cartridges and a mobile phone allegedly containing incriminating chats with Ajmal Gujjar. Subsequent interrogation revealed that Mohit and his associates — identified as Anas, Arif and Karan — had allegedly been recruited to facilitate the smuggling and distribution of narcotics and illegal weapons trafficked from Pakistan through drone deliveries.
During the operation, police seized five pistols, 41 live cartridges, seven mobile phones, a Scorpio vehicle allegedly used by the syndicate and details of several bank accounts suspected to have been used for transferring proceeds from the sale of narcotics and illegal arms.
Investigators further claimed that members of the module had conducted reconnaissance of potential targets, including public places in Delhi, Ghaziabad and nearby areas. Photographs and videos of these locations were allegedly sent to handlers based in Pakistan for operational planning.
Police said the network relied on encrypted communication platforms, disposable mobile numbers, anonymous social media accounts, hawala channels, scanner-based financial transactions and dead-drop delivery mechanisms to evade detection. Handlers reportedly coordinated reconnaissance, logistics, procurement of weapons and explosives, target selection and attack planning remotely from outside India.
According to investigators, recruits were lured through Instagram accounts operated by Gujjar with promises of quick money and a glamorous criminal lifestyle. Several accused, including Arif, Mohit, Anas and absconding accused Aamir, were allegedly involved in money-lending activities and used illegal firearms to intimidate borrowers.
Police alleged that Arif purchased a Jigana pistol from Gujjar for Rs 1 lakh, with payments routed through UPI-based transactions involving accounts linked to individuals in Dubai. The accused were also allegedly involved in smuggling heroin from Punjab into Delhi-NCR through a dead-drop network.
Investigators further revealed that Anas had allegedly facilitated contacts between Gujjar and jailed gangster Deepak Agrola, who is lodged in Mandoli Jail. Agrola is suspected to have used an illegally possessed mobile phone inside the prison to coordinate procurement of illegal weapons through associates.
Several of the arrested individuals reportedly have previous criminal cases registered against them, including charges of murder, attempted murder, dacoity, and offences under the Arms Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Police said efforts are underway to apprehend absconding suspects and identify middlemen, suppliers and recipients involved in the cross-border smuggling network. Further investigation into the alleged conspiracy is continuing.