Indian Government Declares 23 Individuals as Terrorists Under UAPA
In a significant move, the Indian government has declared 23 individuals as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. This action, announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs, includes names linked to prominent terrorist organizations such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. The designated individuals are accused of various terrorist activities, including recruitment and planning attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. This designation not only highlights the ongoing battle against terrorism but also empowers the National Investigation Agency to take necessary actions against these individuals. The recent amendments to anti-terrorism laws allow for individual terrorists to be listed, expanding the government's ability to combat terrorism effectively.
Jul 4, 2026, 14:37 IST
Government Action Against Terrorism
The Indian government has officially designated 23 individuals as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on Saturday. This announcement was made through a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on July 4, 2026. The notification lists several terrorists based in Pakistan who are linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). According to the Ministry, these individuals are allegedly involved in recruiting people for terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, facilitating infiltration, providing training, delivering weapons via drones, and planning attacks.
Details of the Designated Individuals
Among the 23 individuals, three are reported to be close associates of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the founder of LeT. Additionally, three of them are allegedly connected to the 2016 terrorist attack on an army camp in Nagrota, while two are linked to the 2018 attack on the Sunjwan military station. The Ministry identified Abdul Rauf, Hafiz Khalid Waleed, and Rana Iftikhar as close associates of Saeed.
Roles of Key Individuals
Rana Iftikhar, aged 54, is said to coordinate among anti-jihad organizations and incite youth to engage in terrorist activities, while Abdul Rauf, 52, is involved in planning and coordinating terrorist activities and fundraising, operating under the direct command of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed as one of LeT's main terrorists.
Legal Implications of Terrorist Designation
When an individual is declared a terrorist, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 empowers the central government to include their name in the 'declared terrorist' list if they are suspected of involvement in terrorism. Inclusion in this list grants the National Investigation Agency (NIA) the authority to freeze their funds, prohibit the sale of weapons, and seize their assets.
Recent Amendments to Anti-Terrorism Laws
In 2019, amendments to the anti-terrorism law allowed for the listing of individual terrorists, whereas previously only groups could be designated as terrorist organizations. With the recent inclusion of 23 terrorists based in Pakistan, the total number of individuals listed has now reached 80. The government has also added terrorists from Jaish-e-Mohammed, including Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, Mohammad Musadik alias Doctor, Mufti Muhammad Asgar Khan alias Abu Sad, Hafiz Abdul Shakur alias Qari Zarar, Abdullah Jihadi, Ghulam Farid, Maulana Imdadullah Makki, and Waseem Noor Jat. Additionally, terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba such as Firdous Ahmed Bhat, Haroon Rashid Ganai, Bilal Ahmed Mir, Abid Kayoom Lone Nazir Ahmed Gujjar, Abdul Rauf alias Hafiz Abdul Rauf, Ashfaq Ahmed, Hafiz Khalid Waleed, Maulana Saifullah Khalid, Mohammad Yaqoob, Maulana Yusuf Taibi, Owais Farooj, Qari Yaqoob Sheikh, Rana Iftikhar, and Mohammad Shaheed Faisal (also linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS) have also been added to the list.