The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has said that the men arrested in Thanjavur and Coimbatore were linked to a Pakistan-based terrorist network and had allegedly conspired to carry out attacks in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
According to officials, a 21-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh, identified as Maqsood Ali, was earlier arrested in September while staying in Coimbatore, where he was allegedly posing as a daily-wage worker while engaging in terror-related tasks. Subsequently, on October 1, six men staying in Thanjavur—Yasar Abdul (44), Umar Mukhtar (40), Zakir Hussain (38), Abdul (43), Sheikh Fareed (35) and Shamsudeen (44)—were arrested.
Searches at their premises reportedly led to the seizure of books linked to banned organisations, including Hizb ut-Tahrir, along with mobile phones and pen drives. Two more people were also arrested in Karnataka in connection with the same case, and the NIA is continuing its inquiry.
Investigators said the network is allegedly run by a Pakistan-based figure, Shahzad Bhatti (45), who was described as being involved in drug trafficking and using social media videos to radicalise recruits. The NIA said Pakistan’s ISI provided funding and pushed him towards terror activities, leading to the formation of what officials referred to as the “Shahzad Bhatti Network.”
The agency further claimed that the group had plotted to disrupt Independence Day celebrations across 14 states, and that more than 200 people linked to the network had been arrested. Officials said they have issued directions to state anti-terror units through video conferences to prevent youth from being radicalised by banned outfits.
