Delhi police ‘bust Pak-backed syndicate’; critics cite Pakistan obsession
New Delhi: India’s growing obsession with Pakistan continues to cast a shadow over its security narrative, with Delhi Police claiming to have busted a “Pakistan-backed” syndicate and arresting seven individuals in a case that critics say reflects a recurring pattern of attributing incidents to Pakistan while subjecting ordinary citizens to scrutiny and detention on suspicion.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Delhi Police’s Special Cell claimed that the alleged module was being operated by Shahzad Bhatti and his associate Ajmal Gujjar under the patronage of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI.
The seven arrested men belong to different areas of Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
Officials alleged that the group was planning attacks in Delhi and had conducted reconnaissance of a restaurant in Haryana and certain individuals in the Delhi-Loni region.
The arrests come amid a continuing trend in India where Pakistan is frequently blamed for security-related incidents even before independent investigations are completed.
Rights observers have repeatedly expressed concern that such allegations are often amplified through media campaigns, creating an atmosphere of suspicion and fear.
Analysts say the persistent projection of a Pakistan threat serves political and security narratives within India while contributing to the harassment of ordinary citizens, particularly Muslims, who often find themselves under investigation, surveillance or detention on the basis of suspicion rather than proven wrongdoing.
They noted that repeated attempts to invoke the Pakistan angle in domestic incidents have become a familiar feature of India’s security discourse, reinforcing hostility while diverting attention from internal challenges and governance failures.
