The Delhi Police Special Cell has uncovered a plot to carry out grenade attacks at six locations across India. The arrested suspects were allegedly acting under the instructions of Shahzad Bhatti, a Pakistan-based handler with ISI support and were planning attacks in Delhi, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. During interrogation, the three suspects revealed that their targets included six sensitive sites across these three states. The module intended to carry out large-scale destruction in public areas using grenades.
Investigation reveals targets and planning
Examination of mobile phones, chat records and video clips recovered from the suspects helped authorities identify the six potential targets: three in Punjab, two in Uttar Pradesh and one in Delhi. According to police sources, the suspects had conducted reconnaissance, capturing videos and photographs of these locations, which they sent to Bhatti in Pakistan. Following this revelation, police and central agencies have launched joint raids across the three states.
Recruitment through social media
Investigators found that Shahzad Bhatti used fake social media profiles to target Indian youth. Exploiting their financial hardships and unemployment, he lured them into criminal and terrorist activities. Initially offering money-making opportunities, Bhatti gradually involved recruits in tasks such as target reconnaissance, weapons handling, locating hideouts and planning attacks.
The arrested youths admitted that Bhatti maintained continuous contact via social media apps, audio calls and encrypted chats, controlling the module in India without being physically present. Police believe this is a fully foreign-directed terrorist module aimed at destabilizing India.
Evidence of reconnaissance and operational planning
The Special Cell recovered photos, videos and route maps of crowded markets, police stations, administrative buildings and other high-security locations. Forensic analysis of this data is ongoing. Based on these leads, police teams conducted multiple raids from Delhi to Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Bijnor and Noida. Officials stated that two to three members of the module are still at large and searches are ongoing.
Links to larger networks
Interrogation revealed that Bhatti is connected to Punjab gangsters and ISI-backed networks in Pakistan, facilitating funding, weapons supply and recruitment. Two additional contacts of Bhatti have been identified and will be shared with Punjab Police. Local links in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh are also being traced. Authorities describe this module as a highly dangerous network aimed at targeting crowded areas with grenades to spread terror and destabilise the country.
Key suspects and their roles:
- Hargunpreet Singh (Gurkaranpreet) from Kohala village, Firozpur, was recruited through a friend and prepared to attack Gurdaspur Police Station. On 25 November, he threw a grenade outside the city police station while his accomplice Mohan drove the motorcycle, reportedly to demonstrate the module’s activity and secure further funding from Bhatti.
- Asif (Arish) from Machhmar village, Bijnor, contacted Bhatti via Instagram about two and a half months ago. He was tasked with reconnaissance and receiving grenades for potential attacks in Punjab, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
- Vikas Prajapati (Betu), 24, from Datia, Madhya Pradesh, a laborer influenced by Bhatti’s gangster persona on Instagram, learned via video call how to handle grenade-filled parcels. He conducted reconnaissance of Gurdaspur City Police Station and Amritsar Town Hall Police Station, sending videos to Bhatti and coordinating delivery to Hargunpreet and his accomplice.
