New Delhi: India today declared 18 Pakistan-based individuals as designated terrorists, under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The 18 terrorists based in Pakistan include those involved in terrorist attacks in India including the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, IC 814 hijacking, Pathankot airbase attack and the Pulwama suicide bombing.
26/11 mastermind Sajid Mir who is the top commander of LeT; Abdur Rehman Makki, the brother-in-law of Lashkar chief Saeed; Abdul Rauf Asghar, the brother of Jaish chief Masood Azhar; Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) chief Syed Salahuddin; Indian Mujahideen (IM) founder Riyaz Bhatkal and his brother Iqbal; Dawood Ibrahimās right hand man Chhota Shakeel, as well as Tiger Memon and Javed Chikna.
A statement from the government said, “Under the strong and iron-willed leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central government had amended the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 in August 2019, to include the provision of designating an individual as a terrorist. Prior to this amendment, only organisations could be designated as terrorist organisations.”
It added that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has unequivocally reaffirmed the nationās resolve to fight terrorism. By invoking the said amended provision, the Central government designated four individuals in September, 2019 and nine individuals in July, 2020 as terrorists.
Reinforcing the commitment of strengthening national security and its policy of zero tolerance to terrorism, the Modi government today has declared the following eighteen more individuals as designated terrorists, under the provisions of the UAPA Act 1967 (as amended in 2019) and included their names in the Fourth Schedule of the said Act, it said further.
According to the Home Ministry, these individuals are involved in various acts of terrorism from across the border and have been relentless in their nefarious efforts of destabilizing the country.