Srinagar, July 4: In a significant move aimed at strengthening the country’s counter-terrorism framework, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday designated 23 more operatives associated with Pakistan-backed terrorist organisations as individual terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, citing their alleged involvement in terror recruitment, cross-border infiltration, terror financing, logistics, drone-based arms smuggling and planning of major terrorist attacks in India.
According to official notifications issued by the Ministry under Section 35 of the UAPA, a copy of which is available with the Kashmir News Corner (KNC), the names of the 23 individuals have been included in the Fourth Schedule of the Act. With the latest additions, the total number of designated individual terrorists under the schedule has increased from 57 to 80.
The Centre said the designated individuals are affiliated with proscribed terrorist organisations including Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), The Resistance Front (TRF) and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), all of which have been involved in carrying out and facilitating terrorist activities against India.
The Ministry stated that the newly designated individuals have allegedly played key roles in recruiting youth into terrorist ranks, facilitating the infiltration of terrorists from across the border, arranging finances for terror networks, transporting arms and ammunition through drones, managing logistics, and providing operational support to terrorists active in Jammu and Kashmir.
Among the 23 individuals declared as terrorists, 11 have links to Jammu and Kashmir, while the remaining are Pakistan-based operatives allegedly involved in directing and supporting terrorist activities from across the border.
Those linked to Jammu and Kashmir include Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, Mufti Muhammad Asghar Khan, Hafiz Abdul Shakoor, Abdullah Jehadi, Ghulam Fareed, Bilal Ahmad Mir, Abid Qayoom Lone, Haroon Rashid Ganai, Nazir Ahmed Gujjar, Owais Farooz Mir, and Mohammed Shaheed Faisal, who is originally from Bengaluru and is presently based in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
The MHA said investigations revealed that several of the designated Jaish-e-Mohammed operatives were allegedly linked to the 2016 Nagrota Army Camp attack and the 2022 Sunjwan terror attack in Jammu. Others have been accused of operating terrorist launch pads, facilitating infiltration, conducting recruitment drives, managing training camps and coordinating logistics for terrorist organisations.
According to the notifications, Masood Ilyas Kashmiri has been identified as a senior JeM functionary allegedly responsible for recruiting and training terrorists, facilitating infiltration into India and coordinating activities linked to the Sunjwan attack.
The Ministry further alleged that Mohammad Mussadiq functioned as a key JeM handler responsible for cross-border infiltration, drone-based delivery of arms and ammunition and online recruitment through social media platforms.
The notifications also identify Mufti Muhammad Asghar Khan, Hafiz Abdul Shakoor and Abdullah Jehadi as JeM launching commanders who allegedly provided operational training, financial assistance, logistics and support for infiltrating terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir.
The MHA further named Firdous Ahmad Bhat, Haroon Rashid Ganai, Bilal Ahmad Mir, Abid Qayoom Lone and Nazir Ahmed Gujjar as operatives linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, accusing them of facilitating infiltration routes, arranging weapons, mobilising funds, coordinating logistics and encouraging youth to join terrorist organisations.
Among the Pakistan-based operatives designated are Abdul Rauf, Hafiz Khalid Waleed, Maulana Saifullah Khalid, Mohammad Yaqoob, Molana Yousaf Taibi and Qari Yaqub Sheikh, who have been accused of coordinating anti-India terrorist activities, raising funds, extending logistical support and maintaining close links with Lashkar-e-Taiba leadership.
The Ministry also designated Ashfaq Ahmad, Maulana Imdad Ullah Makki and Waseem Noor Jat, alleging that they coordinated terrorist operations, arranged technical assistance, facilitated drone-based delivery of weapons and ammunition and planned multiple terrorist attacks.
In the case of Mohammed Shaheed Faisal, the MHA alleged that he maintained links with Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Al-Qaeda and ISIS modules. He has been accused of recruiting youth through social media, arranging weapons training in Pakistan, raising funds, imparting training in encrypted communications and fake identities, and facilitating the supply of arms and ammunition for terrorist activities.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said the decision to designate the 23 individuals as terrorists was taken after assessing their alleged continued involvement in terrorism and activities threatening India’s sovereignty, integrity and security. It maintained that their inclusion in the Fourth Schedule of the UAPA is an important step towards strengthening national security and intensifying efforts to combat terrorism and its support networks. (KNC)
