NIA searches 18 locations in Punjab, Haryana in Shahzad Bhatti-linked cases

Chandigarh: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday conducted searches at 18 locations across Punjab and Haryana in connection with three terror-gangster network cases linked to Pakistan-based terrorist Shahzad Bhatti.The cases relate to the Mar 2025 grenade attack at the residence of social media influencer Roger Sandhu in Jalandhar, the Nov 2025 explosion at the women's police station in Sirsa, and the Jan 2026 explosion at Baldev Nagar police station in Ambala.NIA teams carried out coordinated searches at multiple premises across nine districts in the two states. The agency said several persons were examined and digital devices, documents and information related to communication networks, financial transactions and other activities of suspects were seized."All the information and evidence collected during the searches has been sent for scrutiny as well as forensic and technical examination to unravel the larger cross-border conspiracy. Notices have been issued to certain individuals to join the investigation for further examination as part of NIA's ongoing probe aimed at unravelling the larger conspiracy behind the network operated by gangster-turned-terrorist Bhatti from across the border," the agency said."Today's searches were focused on identifying Bhatti's associates and others linked with the terror conspiracy related to all three cases," it added.According to NIA, its investigation into the Mar 2025 grenade attack at Roger Sandhu's residence traced the conspiracy to Bhatti. The agency chargesheeted Bhatti, declared him an absconder, and another accused in Apr 2026.The NIA has also alleged that Bhatti masterminded the Nov 2025 explosion at the women's police station in Sirsa and the Jan 2026 blast at Baldev Nagar police station in Ambala. In the Sirsa case, the agency chargesheeted nine accused, including Bhatti and Pakistan-based handler Sohail Ahmad alias Sohail Baloch, in May 2026.The Baldev Nagar police station case relates to a car bomb explosion in which one arrested accused was found to have been in contact with Bhatti, according to the NIA. "Investigations in these cases are continuing as part of NIA's aggressive efforts to trace all linkages in the terror attacks," the agency said.