India declares 18 Pakistan-based individuals including Hizbul chief, Chota Shakeel as terrorists under UAPA

The government of India has designated 18 more individuals, all Pakistan based, as “terrorists” under the amended anti-terror law that was passed by Parliament last year.

Earlier in August 2019, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government has amended the UAPA to include the provision of designating an individual as a terrorist. Prior to this amendment, only organizations could be designated as terrorist organizations.

Those designated as terrorists include Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Syed Salahudeen, founders of Indian Mujahideen Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal and gangster Dawood Ibrahim’s close aide Chota Shakeel.

The hijackers of an Indian Airlines plane in 1999 -- Abdul Rauf Asghar, Ibrahim Athar and Yusuf Azhar -- have also been named in the list, prepared under provisions of the amended Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

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 accused of terror financing and various terrorist acts including the Jaipur serial blasts (2008), Delhi serial blasts (2008), serial blasts in Ahmedabad and Surat (2008).

Four close aides of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim -- who was designated a global terrorist by the UN -- Shaikh Shakeel alias Chhota Shakeel, Mohammad Anis Shaikh, Ibrahim Memon alias Tiger Memon and Javed Chikna have been named in the list.

Besides being involved in 1993 serial blast in Mumbai, they are also accused of looking after all criminal and underworld operations of D-Company.
Pakistan-based deputy chief of proscribed organization Falah-i-lnsaniyat Foundation (FIF) -- a frontal organisation of terror organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) -- Shahid Mehmood alias Shahid Mehmood Rehmatullah, was also declared a terrorist.

Farhatullah Ghori alias Abu Sufiyan, a Pakistan-based terrorist who was involved in the attack on Akshardham Temple (2002) and the suicide attack on the Task Force office in Hyderabad (2005), also finds his name on the list.

The three kin of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief 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 setting up of training camps in Pakistan for recruitment and militant training. Asghar is also a key conspirator in the 2001 terrorist attack on Parliament House.

Besides Sallahuddin, whose original name is Syed Mohammed Yusuf Shah, his deputy Ghulam Nabi Khan alias Amir Khan has also been designated a terrorist. They have been accused of being involved in fundraising and routing finances to India for the furtherance of terrorist activities by Hizbul Mujahideen cadres.

Shahid Latif, a Pakistan-based terrorist and Jaish's Commander of Sialkot sector, involved in the launching of JeM terrorists into India, has also been named. He is also involved in planning, facilitation and execution of terror attacks in India.

The list also named Zaffar Hussain Bhat, a Pakistan-based person who handles financial affairs of Hizbul Mujahideen.

"Under the strong and iron-willed leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central Government had amended the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 to include the provision of designating an individual as a terrorist," the spokesperson said.

"Prior to this amendment, only organizations could be designated as terrorist organizations," he said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has unequivocally reaffirmed the nation's resolve to fight terrorism, he said. 

(With inputs from agencies)