Shillong: Shehzad Bhatti is fighting back. The gangster is using VPNs to bypass recent security crackdowns and reconnect with his illicit networks in India. Indian agencies previously dismantled his operation, targeting numerous social media accounts linked to his followers. Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared the module destroyed, but Bhatti posted a video challenging that claim. He insisted that the men previously arrested were not his associates and brazenly stated, "all the men recruited by him and his people were still working for him."
Intelligence officials dismissed his rhetoric as false. They confirm that his infrastructure is severely damaged. To survive, Bhatti is now targeting Indians living abroad. The plan involves recruiting these individuals to scout for targets back home. It is a cost-effective strategy for the ISI. Recruits are paid as little as Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 for surveillance work. This is pocket change compared to larger groups like Lashkar-e-Tayiba or Jaish-e-Mohammad.
These assets serve as the eyes and ears of the ISI. They gather intelligence to support future large-scale terror attacks. Law enforcement is not sitting idle. Meta recently integrated its Instagram and Facebook platforms with the Sahyog portal. This portal, built by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre, allows for automated, real-time blocking of content under Section 79 (3) (b) of the Information Technology Act. Officials admit the battle is ongoing. The ISI remains committed to maintaining this low-risk, high-utility network.
Comments