New Delhi, July 12: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against eight accused, including Pakistan-based gangster-turned-terrorist Shehzad Bhatti, in connection with the January 2026 Improvised Explosive Device (IED) car bomb attack at Baldev Nagar Police Station in Ambala, Haryana.
According to the NIA, the accused were part of a cross-border terror conspiracy allegedly masterminded by Shehzad Bhatti, who is believed to be operating from Pakistan. The agency has accused Bhatti of establishing operational modules in India, recruiting local operatives, arranging logistics and directing the execution of the attack.
Pakistan-Based Conspiracy
The NIA investigation alleges that Bhatti coordinated the conspiracy remotely from Pakistan using social media platforms and encrypted messaging applications to communicate with his associates in India.
Investigators claim he recruited and radicalised local operatives, instructed them to procure explosives and identify police establishments as targets in an attempt to spread fear and undermine law enforcement.
IED-Laden Car Used in Attack
According to the chargesheet, the accused allegedly parked an explosive-laden vehicle inside the premises of Baldev Nagar Police Station before detonating the IED.
The agency further stated that the conspirators recorded videos of the blast site for use in propaganda and to publicise the attack through digital platforms.
Eight Accused Chargesheeted
The NIA has filed charges against eight individuals, including Shehzad Bhatti, for their alleged involvement in planning, facilitating and executing the terror attack.
The agency has indicated that the accused played different roles in the conspiracy, including recruitment, logistics, procurement of explosives, reconnaissance and execution.
Charges Invoked
The accused have been booked under multiple provisions, including:
- Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023
- Explosive Substances Act, 1908
- Telecommunication Act, 2023
These charges relate to terrorism, criminal conspiracy, use of explosives and unlawful communication networks.
Investigation Continues
The NIA stated that the investigation is still underway and efforts are continuing to identify other members of the terror network, financial backers and cross-border handlers involved in the conspiracy.
Officials said further arrests and supplementary chargesheets may follow as the probe progresses.
The case is being viewed as another example of the use of cross-border operatives and locally recruited modules to target security establishments in India, with investigators continuing to examine the wider network allegedly linked to Pakistan-based terrorist handlers.