23 named terrorists under UAPA: MHA
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has named 23 more people as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Government’s ‘Zero Tolerance Policy’ against terrorism.
Led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, this step is part of ongoing efforts to break up terror groups and protect India and its citizens.
The Home Minister highlighted the Government’s commitment in a post on X. He wrote, “Pursuing PM Narendra Modi Ji’s vision of zero tolerance against terror. The MHA today declared 23 dreaded terror functionaries affiliated with banned organisations as terrorists under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The designated terrorists are involved in anti-India activities, including terror attacks, inciting terror, trafficking arms, infiltrating through the border, facilitating terrorist organisations, raising funds and recruiting terrorists.”
Of the 23 people named, 17 are from Pakistan, and 6 are from India. All of them are currently in Pakistan or Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The UAPA allows the Government to freeze assets, restrict travel and financial activities, and take other measures to stop terrorist operations.
Naming Indian nationals who operate from outside the country shows how cross-border radicalisation can spread and the problems caused by people joining hostile groups abroad. This move shows that Indian law will act against such people, wherever they are. It is part of a strategy that uses intelligence and legal action to fight terrorism. By targeting those involved in funding, recruitment, and support, authorities hope to break the networks that help terrorist groups continue.
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act equips the Government with powerful tools to combat terrorism. Designation as a terrorist enables authorities to freeze assets, restrict travel and financial transactions, and impose other stringent measures. These provisions are designed to cripple the operational and financial backbone of terrorist networks.
According to the official Government notification, the 23 designated individuals are linked primarily to banned outfits including Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and The Resistance Front (TRF). They are accused of a range of activities such as planning and executing terror attacks, cross-border infiltration, arms smuggling (including through drones), recruitment of youth, fundraising, and providing logistical support to terrorist modules.
Specific cases linked to some of the designated persons include the 2016 Nagrota Army camp attack and the April 2022 Sunjwan attack in Jammu.
The complete list of the 23 individuals designated as terrorists under the UAPA (primary names as per the official notification) is as follows: Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, Mohammad Musadiq, Mufti Mohammad Asghar Khan, Hafiz Abdul Shakoor, Abdullah Jihadi, Firdous Ahmed Bhat, Ghulam Farid, Haroon Rashid Ganai, Bilal Ahmed Mir, Abid Qayoom Lone, Nazir Ahmed Gujjar, Abdul Rauf, Ashfaq Ahmed, Hafiz Khalid Walid, Maulana Imdad, Ullah Makki, Maulana Saifullah Khalid, Mohammad Yaqoob, Maulana Yusuf Taibi, Owais Farooz, Qari Yaqub Sheikh, Rana Iftikhar, Wasim Noor Jat and Mohammad Shahid Faisal.
This brings the total number of individuals designated as terrorists under the UAPA to 80. The designations are based on credible intelligence inputs and will enable legal, financial, and investigative action against these individuals and their support networks at both national and international levels.
This step is part of the Centre’s broader strategy to address terrorism comprehensively. By targeting key functionaries responsible for critical aspects of terror operations, the MHA is working to disrupt the chain of command and support system. Such proactive measures neutralise current threats and deter potential recruits and supporters of terrorism.
“The commitment to zero tolerance has been a hallmark of the current administration’s security policy. Through consistent, firm actions, it seeks to create an environment where terrorism cannot thrive. The safety and well-being of citizens remain paramount, and these designations contribute significantly to that goal”, a senior official said. The international community is also likely to take note of such firm steps against terror, strengthening India’s position in global counter-terrorism efforts, he added.
