New Delhi: In its biggest crackdown in recent times, the Centre on Saturday designated 23 individuals as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), intensifying efforts to dismantle networks run by Pakistan-based outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Of the 23 named, 17 are Pakistani nationals and six are Indian nationals, though all are said to operate from Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said the individuals were involved in terror attacks, infiltration, arms trafficking, fundraising, and recruitment.
Among those listed is Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, a senior JeM member accused of training militants and linked to the 2022 Sunjwan attack in Jammu.
The MHA has issued notifications adding the names to the Fourth Schedule of UAPA, which empowers the government to declare individuals as terrorists if they engage in such activities.
The 23 individuals newly designated as terrorists are:
Masood Ilyas Kashmiri
Mohammad Mussadiq
Mufti Muhammad Asghar Khan
Hafiz Abdul Shakoor
Abdullah Jehadi
Firdous Ahmad Bhat
Ghulam Fareed
Bilal Ahmad Mir
Abid Quyoom Lone
Nazir Ahmed Gujjar
Abdul Rauf
Ashfaq Ahmad
Hafiz Khalid Waleed
Maulana Saifullah Khalid
Mohammad Yaqoob
Molana Yousaf Taibi
Owais Farooz
Qari Yaqub Sheikh
Rana Iftikhar
Waseem Noor Jat
Mohammed Shaheed Faisal
Maulana Imdad Ullah Makki
Haroon Rashid Ganai