Rajasthan border youth arrested for terror links via Instagram, WhatsApp

JAISALMER: Terror operatives based across the border in Pakistan are now attempting to trap youths from Rajasthan’s border areas and use them to carry out terrorist activities in India.

Pakistani terrorist Shehzad Bhatti has reportedly been establishing contact with young people in border regions through social media platforms.JAISALMER: In a recent case from the Lalgadh Jatan police station area of Sri Ganganagar district, police arrested a youth named Akashdeep for involvement in anti-national activities. The accused had been in contact with Shehzad Bhatti for a long time via Instagram and WhatsApp.

During interrogation, it was revealed that on Bhatti’s instructions, Akashdeep conducted reconnaissance (recce) in Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab, making videos of crowded and sensitive locations. He also shared plans on how to access these locations with the terrorist handler.Superintendent of Police Harishankar stated that Sri Ganganagar, being located along the India–Pakistan international border, is a sensitive district.

Therefore, police maintain strict vigilance on suspicious individuals who may pose a threat to national security.Police received intelligence that Akashdeep, a 20-year-old resident with a criminal tendency, used to threaten villagers by claiming links with Pakistani terrorists. Investigation confirmed that he was in contact with Shehzad Bhatti through Instagram and WhatsApp, including voice chats with Pakistani numbers (+92 country code), and had shared certain information.The SP further revealed that on March 13, 2026, Indian associates of Shehzad Bhatti were arrested in Ambala (Haryana), and explosives were recovered. Another associate was arrested on March 24, 2026 in Hanumangarh. These incidents indicate that Bhatti is operating a network through electronic and social media platforms.Given Akashdeep’s direct contact with a Pakistani terrorist, his actions pose a serious threat to India’s internal security, sovereignty, unity, and integrity. He has been arrested under relevant sections of the BNS 2023, and the investigation has been handed over to Sub-Inspector Om Prakash.Police recovered several crucial clues from the accused’s mobile phone. He had created multiple fake social media accounts to communicate with the terrorist. Evidence shows he engaged in voice chats with Pakistani contacts and shared information via WhatsApp.Authorities also found AI-generated images of Akashdeep with Shehzad Bhatti in his phone gallery. He followed Bhatti on social media, liked and commented on his posts, and even uploaded edited images online.Station House Officer Gurmel Singh Barad of Lalgadh Jatan police station stated that the accused used to threaten some villagers by claiming he had links with Pakistani terrorists. He was using mobile number 9079910356. Acting on information provided by Constable Gurjeet Singh, he was brought to the police station.During initial interrogation, the accused admitted that he had been in contact with Pakistani terrorist Shehzad Bhatti through Instagram and WhatsApp. Police also seized an old mobile phone of a Realme device from his possession, which contained the same SIM number (9079910356).Upon checking his Instagram account “itsoy_akash,” it was found that through an ID named “krystal_hactor,” he was engaged in voice chats with individuals from India and Pakistan and had shared information with numbers having the +92 country code.During questioning, Akashdeep admitted that he surveyed crowded public places on Bhatti’s instructions, recorded videos, and sent them to Pakistan. He also shared detailed access routes to these locations.Further investigation revealed that he conducted reconnaissance of key locations in Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, Chandigarh, and Ambala (Haryana). Police are continuing interrogation and probing his local contacts, family links, and any wider network.Officials also stated that the आरोपी was attempting to connect other local youths with the Pakistani handler, raising serious concerns about cross-border radicalization through social media.