Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Monday that security forces busted the Pakistan-based, ISI-backed Shahzad Bhatti Network ahead of Independence Day, detaining 253 operatives across 14 states.
The multi-state crackdown on August 12 led to 62 detentions in Uttar Pradesh, 52 in Haryana, 51 in Delhi, and 44 in Punjab, with over 80 FIRs registered against the terror syndicate.
Security forces recovered improvised explosive devices, grenades with Pakistan Ordnance Factory markings, pistols, and live cartridges from the group, which paid local conduits to install CCTV cameras for espionage.