New Delhi, 04 July (H.S.): In line with the Modi government's zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, the Ministry of Home Affairs has designated 23 more terror operatives as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA). With this latest action, the total number of individuals designated as terrorists under the Fourth Schedule of the UAPA has increased to 80. Of the 23 newly designated terrorists, 17 are Pakistani nationals and six are Indian nationals.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said the formal designation of these individuals would help curb their financial networks, restrict their movement and recruitment capabilities, disrupt their terrorist activities, and strengthen legal action against them at both the national and international levels.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in a post on social media platform X that, carrying forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi's zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism, 23 dreaded terrorists associated with banned organisations had been designated as terrorists under the UAPA. He said these individuals had been involved in anti-India activities, terrorist attacks, arms smuggling, cross-border infiltration, assisting terrorist organisations, raising funds for terrorism and recruiting terrorists.

Shah reiterated that the Modi government remains firmly committed to dismantling every terrorist network to ensure the safety and security of India and its citizens.

According to the Ministry, the 23 designated terrorists include 17 Pakistani nationals and six Indian nationals. All of them are currently operating anti-India terrorist activities from Pakistan or Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).

Among the Pakistani nationals designated as terrorists are Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, Mohammad Musadiq, Mufti Mohammad Asghar Khan, Hafiz Abdul Shakoor, Abdullah Jihadi, Ghulam Farid, Ashfaq Ahmad, Maulana Imdad Ullah Makki and Wasim Noor Jatt, who are associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). In addition, Abdul Rauf, Hafiz Khalid Walid, Maulana Saifullah Khalid, Mohammad Yaqoob, Maulana Yusuf Taibi, Qari Yaqoob Sheikh, Rana Iftikhar and Mohammad Shahid Faisal have been linked to organisations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF), Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), Al-Qaeda and ISIS.

The six Indian nationals designated as terrorists are Firdous Ahmad Bhat, Haroon Rashid Ganai, Bilal Ahmad Mir, Abid Qayoom Lone, Nazir Ahmad Gujjar and Owais Farooz. According to the Ministry, Firdous Ahmad Bhat, Haroon Rashid Ganai, Abid Qayoom Lone, Nazir Ahmad Gujjar and Owais Farooz are associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba, while Bilal Ahmad Mir is linked to both Lashkar-e-Taiba and The Resistance Front (TRF). All six are currently operating from Pakistan or Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The Ministry stated that the objective of listing these individuals as terrorists is to dismantle their terrorist networks, cut off financial support, eliminate their recruitment and operational capabilities, and further strengthen India's legal and security framework in the fight against terrorism.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar