Continuing the theme of “iron fist” terrorism, the government on Tuesday designated 18 more people as “terrorists”, including the head of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen Syed Sallahudin, the founders of the Indian brothers Mujahideen Bhatkal and a close lieutenant of the underworld Don Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Shakeel, bringing the total number of people outlawed to 31. The announcement by the Union Ministry of the Interior came on the day of the 2 + 2 ministerial dialogue between India and the US, where Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Foreign Minister S Jaishankar met with their US counterparts.
The hijackers of an Indian Airlines plane in 1999, Abdul Rauf Asghar, Ibrahim Athar and Yusuf Azhar, have also been named on the list, prepared under the provisions of the amended Illicit Activities Prevention Act, said an Interior Ministry spokesman. . Previously, only terrorist teams could be designated as such under strict law and not individuals. But the amended Counter-Terrorism Act, passed by Parliament in August 2019, introduced a provision to designate as “terrorists” people who commit or participate in acts of terrorism, prepare for them, or promote or encourage such acts.
By invoking this amended provision, the central government had designated four people as terrorists in September 2019 and nine in July 2020. Among those who have already been declared terrorists is the head of Jaish-e-Mohammed, Masood Azhar, founder of Lashker-e-Taiba. Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Mumbai terrorist attack accused Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, fugitive mafia boss Dawood Ibrahim, Jalistan Command Force chief Paramjit Singh Panjwar and Babbar Khalsa International chief Wadhawa Singh Babbar.
“Reinforcing the commitment to strengthen national security and its policy of zero tolerance for terrorism, the Modi government today declared 18 more people as designated terrorists under the provisions of the UAPA,” the spokesperson said. “These people are involved in various acts of terrorism across the border and have been relentless in their nefarious efforts to destabilize the country,” he said.
Among those named on the terrorist list are Sajid Mir, the main commander of the Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT), who was one of the main planners of the 11/26 Bombay terror attack; Yusuf Muzammil, a LeT commander and accused in the Mumbai terror attack on 11/26; Abdur Rehman Makki, the brother-in-law of Lashker’s boss Hafiz Saeed, who runs political affairs and has worked in the organization’s foreign affairs department. The list names Riyaz Ismail Shahbandri alias Riyaz Bhatkal and his brother Mohammed Iqbal alias Iqbal Bhatkal who formed Indian Mujahideen and were involved in various terrorist acts including attacks on German Bakery (2010), Chinnaswami Stadium, Bangalore (2010), Jama Masjid ( 2010). ), Sheetlaghat (2010) and Mumbai (2011).
They have also been charged with terrorist financing and various terrorist acts, including the serial attacks in Jaipur (2008), the serial attacks in Delhi (2008) and the serial attacks in Ahmedabad and Surat (2008). Four close collaborators from the underworld Don Dawood Ibrahim – who was designated a global terrorist by the UN – Shaikh Shakeel aka Chhota Shakeel, Mohammad Anis Shaikh, Ibrahim Memon aka Tiger Memon and Javed Chikna have been named to the list.
As well as being involved in the 1993 serial explosion in Mumbai, they are also charged with policing all of D-Company’s criminal and underworld operations. The Pakistan-based deputy head of the banned Falah-i-lnsaniyat Foundation (FIF), a front organization of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist organization, Shahid Mehmood alias Shahid Mehmood Rehmatullah, was also declared a terrorist. Farhatullah Ghori, aka Abu Sufiyan, a Pakistan-based terrorist who was involved in the Akshardham Temple attack (2002) and the suicide attack on the Task Force’s office in Hyderabad (2005), also finds his name on the list. .
Three relatives of the Jaish-e-Mohammed boss, Masoor Azhar, Abdul Rauf Asghar, Ibrahim Athar and Yusuf Azhar, all wanted in connection with the hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane in 1999 have been designated as terrorists. They are also on the Interpol Red Corner list. The trio is also involved in the creation of training camps in Pakistan for the recruitment and training of militants. Asghar is also a key conspirator in the 2001 terrorist attack on Parliament.
In addition to Sallahuddin, whose original name is Syed Mohammed Yusuf Shah, his deputy Ghulam Nabi Khan, alias Amir Khan, has also been designated a terrorist. Hizbul Mujahideen cadres accused them of being involved in fundraising and routing finances to India to promote terrorist activities. Shahid Latif, a Pakistan-based terrorist and Jaish commander of the Sialkot sector, has also been named involved in the launch of JeM terrorists into India. He is also involved in the planning, facilitation and execution of terrorist attacks in India.
The list also named Zaffar Hussain Bhat, a Pakistan-based person who handles the financial affairs of Hizbul Mujahideen. “Under the strong and ironclad leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the central government amended the Unlawful Activity (Prevention) Act of 1967 to include the provision to designate an individual as a terrorist,” the spokesman said.
Before this amendment, only organizations could be designated as terrorist organizations. Union Interior Minister Amit Shah has unequivocally reaffirmed the nation’s determination to fight terrorism, he said.
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