Guwahati: Assam’s Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a suspected terrorist linked with Pakistan based terror module Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN). The arrest has been made in Hailakandi district of southern Assam. The arrested jihadi has been identified as Fazal Islam Barbhuyan. Based on specific intelligence, STF conducted a raid in Ramnathpur area of Hailakandi and arrested Fazal Islam on August 26 morning. STF sources said that two mobile phones and incremental documents were seized during the raid.
The arrested Islamist was in connection with Pakistan and Bangladesh based handlers through encrypted social media platforms. Fazal Islam was given the task to spread the network activity in the state along with spreading propaganda amongst the youth to recruit more members in the terror group. The arrested jihadi is being brought to STF headquarters in Guwahati for further investigation. This is the fourth arrest of the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) member in Assam. Earlier on July 24, STF carried out a major crackdown on suspected terror activity, arresting three people having been linked to a Pakistan-based terror network. The coordinated operations were carried out by STF teams working alongside district police in Dhubri, Chirang and Barpeta. The operations were launched as a part of the STF Police Station Case No. 06/2026 investigation.
The arrested Islamist terrorists were identified as Akramul Islam (26) of Dhubri district, Aminur Rahman (22) of Chirang district and Abdul Hussain (54) of Barpeta district.
STF SSP Pranab Kumar Pegu said that the operations were carried out on the basis of specific intelligence on Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) activities taking place in lower Assam districts.
The three criminals arrested are suspected to have links with the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN), a group based in Pakistan. Officials of STF say this marks the second such arrest of individuals connected to a Pakistan-based terror outfit by STF in Assam. Prior to this STF in May 2026 arrested terrorist links with SBN from Nalbari district of Assam.
STF officials said the arrests followed credible intelligence about the network’s activities. SSP Pegu said that the Shahzad Bhatti Network is involved in a range of illegal and anti-national activities, including recruiting members, spreading radical ideology online, scouting locations, managing logistics, gathering intelligence, illegally procuring weapons, setting up sleeper cells, and helping plan terrorist activities in different parts of the country.
STF sources said that the initial investigation prior to these arrests indicates that the network is planning something bigger in Assam and other parts of the country. According to the STF, intelligence inputs suggest that the group works in coordination with, and takes direction from, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The network is believed to stay in touch with its handlers in Pakistan through encrypted communication channels, making it harder to trace.
STF seized 5 mobile phones, 7 SIM cards, Bank Passbooks, ATM cards, Aadhar card and several indiscriminating documents from the arrested terrorists.
STF sources said that the investigation of the SBN in Assam will take new momentum after the latest arrests. STF successfully busting several terror modules having links with Bangladesh based terrorist groups and the recent success of cracking the Pakistan based terror module in Assam is the evidence of growing radical Islamic terror threats in the state.
