Jalgaon (Maharashtra), July 16 (IANS) Youths from Maharashtra’s Jalgaon who allegedly came in contact with gangsters Shehzad Bhatti and Lawrence Bishnoi via social media, have been questioned by the district’s Anti-Terrorism Department, said Sub Inspector Ravindra Gaikwad.

According to officials, youths from different parts of Jalgaon district were in contact with Shehzad Bhatti, who is backed by the ISI, and Lawrence Bishnoi through social media.

Security agencies have also examined their social media accounts and bank accounts as part of the investigation.

Speaking to reporters, Ravindra Gaikwad acknowledged that almost every person uses social media today. He said: “Regarding Shehzad Bhatti’s case, upon investigation we have got to know that there are youths who follow such people on social media and get influenced through their videos.”

“For now, we have let them off after questioning and further investigation is underway,” he added.

Urging citizens to prioritise the nation over anything else, the police officer underlined that Shehzad Bhatti is backed by Pakistan’s ISI and appealed to people not to come under the influence of such people.

All the youths who were questioned have undergone counselling and have been sent back to their parents.

Gaikwad said: “Seven to eight youths were questioned and investigation is underway on whatever we got to know about Shehzad Bhatti from them.”

He further mentioned that the youths who were questioned include juveniles.

Moreover, investigators have also found indications that Shehzad Bhatti may have been using these contacts to recruit young people and potentially create a sleeper cell for anti-national activities. The matter remains under investigation.

For Bhatti, the social media has become a major platform to recruit Indians and make them carry out anti-national acts. The police of various states have cracked down on these networks, but as each day passes more such modules are cropping up.

An Intelligence Bureau official says that this module is extremely dangerous as it is intended at carrying out a perception battle against India.

The idea is to defame and create an anti-India perception across the globe. Bhatti who himself was a social media influencer before being roped in by the ISI, knows the tricks of the trade.

–IANS

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