The arrest of a Jammu-based meat seller, Raman Kumar, for his alleged links with notorious Dubai-based Pakistani don-turned-terrorist Shahzad Bhatti has raised many eyebrows.
"In a major breakthrough against a Pakistan-backed terror network, the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), SAS Nagar, has apprehended Raman Kumar alias Golu, a resident of Jammu and a key associate of Pakistan-based terrorist Shahzad Bhatti, and recovered a .30 bore pistol from his possession," Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said.
Reports said that a team of the Punjab Police arrested Raman Kumar, a resident of Jammu, for his links with Pakistani terrorist Shahzad Bhatti. Officials said the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), Mohali, arrested Kumar, a resident of the Gangyal area in Jammu, for his alleged links with the Pakistan-based terrorist.
The arrested accused was in direct contact with Shahzad Bhatti through Instagram and WhatsApp and was also involved in the Ambala police station blast case. He allegedly provided financial support to the perpetrators.
Kumar was arrested on January 21 in connection with an Arms Act case registered on December 10 last year at the SSOC Mohali police station. After obtaining a production warrant, the accused was brought from Ambala jail to Punjab and produced before a district court.
During interrogation, Kumar revealed that he runs a meat shop in Gangyal and had local rivalries. He said he came in contact with Bhatti through Instagram and remained in touch with him.
According to investigators, Bhatti allegedly supplied the pistol to Kumar through one of his operatives, while specific target details were yet to be shared. Acting on the accused's disclosure, an SSOC team recovered the weapon.
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Police said Kumar had earlier been arrested by Ambala Police in connection with a blast at a police station in Ambala, which was allegedly carried out on Bhatti's directions. The accused is also alleged to have provided financial assistance to the perpetrators at Bhatti's behest.
Bhatti Earlier Threatened Bihar CM Over Hijab Incident
Shahzad Bhatti, who is known to be highly active on social media, had earlier threatened Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar following the hijab controversy.
In a video, Bhatti warned that the Chief Minister must issue a public apology, failing which, he said, "no one should later say that no warning was given."
Bhatti stated that everyone had seen what happened in Bihar, where, according to him, a person holding a high constitutional position behaved inappropriately with a Muslim woman. He added that later allegations are made that his reaction was excessive, but said the concerned individual still had time to apologise to the woman. He warned that if an apology was not offered, authorities should take action, and that no one should later claim that no warning had been issued.
Shahzad Bhatti earlier came into the limelight after it emerged that Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, lodged in a Gujarat jail, had allegedly video-called him to convey Eid greetings. The video later went viral on social media.
More recently, relations between the two are believed to have soured. Lawrence Bishnoi's younger brother, Anmol Bishnoi, who was recently extradited from the United States, has claimed that Bhatti's men could attempt to kill him in India.
Bhatti has also been in the news for issuing threats to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Citing a threat to his life from Bhatti, Anmol Bishnoi, currently lodged in Tihar Jail, had approached a Delhi court seeking a bulletproof jacket and a secure vehicle.
Bhatti Also Claimed Responsibility for Jalandhar Attack
In March 2025, unidentified assailants carried out a grenade attack on a YouTuber's house in Punjab's Jalandhar, allegedly in retaliation for derogatory remarks about Islam. In a video uploaded on social media, Shahzad Bhatti claimed responsibility for the attack.
In the video posted on Instagram, Bhatti claimed that he orchestrated the attack as the YouTuber and his associates had allegedly made offensive remarks against Islam. He warned that similar attacks would continue if the individuals responsible were not arrested.
Bhatti also claimed that five people were involved in carrying out the attack and thanked his associates, including Zeeshan Akhtar and Khalistani terrorist Happy Pasia, for their support in the operation.
He further threatened authorities, demanding action against those who allegedly insulted Islam, and warned of further violence, claiming to possess photographs and details of the individuals involved.
