NIA probes Pakistani gangster's online recruitment network, ISI angle

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has launched a comprehensive investigation into an online recruitment network allegedly operated by Shahzad Bhatti, a gangster based in Pakistan, with connections to domestic terror activities. The inquiry focuses on how Bhatti leveraged social media platforms and encrypted messaging applications to identify and enlist local operatives for executing operations within Indian territory.

Among the cases under scrutiny is the January 10 blast in Ambala, Haryana, which authorities believe may be linked to operatives recruited through Bhatti's network. Investigators are examining the modus operandi employed to identify vulnerable individuals and coordinate activities across state lines without physical presence.

The NIA's investigation has expanded to examine potential connections between Bhatti's criminal operation and Pakistani intelligence agencies. Officials are analyzing communication patterns, financial transactions, and coordination mechanisms to establish the extent of institutional support, if any, extended to the recruitment and operational activities.

Authorities have intensified surveillance and are tracking digital footprints across multiple platforms to identify additional operatives and dismantle the network. The case highlights the evolving threat posed by transnational criminal networks utilizing technology to circumvent traditional intelligence-gathering methods and coordinate domestic security threats.