On Tuesday (27 October), the Centre declared eighteen Pakistan-based individuals as designated terrorists, under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The 18 individuals designated as terrorists include Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba’s (LeT) top commanders Sajid Mir alias Sajid Majeed and Yusuf Muzammil (both accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack); Abdur Rehman Makki, brother-in-law of LeT Chief Hafiz Saeed; Hizbul Mujahideen Chief Syed Salahudeen.
In 2019, the Narendra Modi-led Central government had amended the UAPA to include the provision of designating an individual as a terrorist. This amendment now gives security agencies more flexibility because the earlier law only allowed organisations to be designated as terrorist organizations.
By having the power to designate an individual as a terrorist, that individual even if they change terror organisation will still be targeted.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has now designated 18 more individuals as terrorists and have included their names in the fourth schedule of the amended UAPA.
Others who have been added to the lists are Pakistan-based associates of Dawood Ibrahim including Chhota Shakeel, Shahid Shaikh and Javed Chikna; and Riyaz Bhatkal and Iqbal Bhatkal, founder members of the proscribed terror outfit Indian Mujahideen, Shahid Mehmood, Abu Sufiyan, Yusuf Azhar, Shahid Latif, Saifullah Khalid, Zaffar Hussain Bhat, Mohammad Anis Shaikh, Tiger Memon and Abdul Rauf Asghar.