NEW DELHI, SEPT 16: The Centre has declared the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), placing the group on the list of banned terrorist outfits.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs issued a gazette notification on Wednesday invoking Section 35(1)(a) of the UAPA to add the Shahzad Bhatti Network to the First Schedule of the legislation, which contains the names of organisations designated as terrorist groups.
According to the notification, the action was based on cases registered against individuals allegedly associated with the network. The cases have been filed under multiple laws, including the UAPA, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Arms Act, Explosives Act and Information Technology Act.
The notification also referred to cases registered under the Prevention of Defacement of Property Act against alleged members of the network.
With its inclusion in the First Schedule of the UAPA, the Shahzad Bhatti Network will be subject to the legal restrictions and provisions applicable to organisations designated as terrorist outfits under the law.
The government’s notification formally brings the network within the ambit of the UAPA’s framework for dealing with organisations identified by the Centre as being involved in activities covered by the Act.
