Jaisalmer/Jaipur: A 20-year-old man identified as Akashdeep Singh has been arrested in Sriganganagar district for suspected links to a Pakistan-based terrorist handler, Shahzad Bhatti. The arrest occurred Thursday following a tip-off from a local constable about Singh’s suspicious activities on social media platforms.Police authorities revealed that Singh allegedly boasted about his connections to Pakistani terrorists and intimidated local villagers with his claims. Investigations indicated that he was in direct communication with Bhatti, an underworld leader believed to be running a cross-border module, through Instagram and WhatsApp. Police have detected Singh’s numerous exchanges, including voice chats, with a phone number bearing the international calling code for Pakistan (+92). The connection to Bhatti is particularly concerning for security forces, as he has previously been implicated in orchestrating terrorist activities across the border. On March 13, associates of Bhatti were arrested in Ambala while allegedly plotting a major explosive attack, during which significant quantities of explosives were seized. Another associate, Jaswant Kumar alias Sonu, was arrested soon after in Hanumangarh Town. Investigators are now looking into the possibility that Bhatti has been actively targeting youth in border districts to recruit or influence them through social media. A police official said, “Bhatti has been reaching out to youth in border districts using Instagram and WhatsApp to build contacts and assign tasks. This is a disturbing trend, especially considering his known affiliations with Pakistan’s ISI.” The police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Singh, and a deeper investigation is underway, led by senior law enforcement officers. The ongoing investigation aims to uncover any further connections or networks that may pose a risk to national security. “There is a possibility that the ISI is using Bhatti for nefarious designs in border districts of Rajasthan,” said an official.
Sriganganagar man held for alleged links to Pak handler | Jaipur News
