MHA Designates 23 Individuals as Terrorists Under UAPA

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has designated 17 individuals from Pakistan and six Indian nationals as 'individual terrorists' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). This is the first time the government has used this provision to target specific persons rather than groups.

The newly designated terrorists include operatives of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen, among others. The list includes names such as Hafiz Saeed's close aide and LeT commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, JeM chief Masood Azhar, and Hizbul Mujahideen's Syed Salahuddin. The six Indians are linked to separatist movements in Jammu and Kashmir.

Under Section 35 of the UAPA, the MHA can list individuals as terrorists if they are involved in terrorism, prepare or plan terrorist acts, or promote terrorism. Once designated, their assets can be frozen, and they face travel bans and other restrictions.

The move aims to strengthen counter-terrorism efforts by targeting individuals who operate across borders. Officials said the designations are based on intelligence inputs and evidence of involvement in terrorist activities. The MHA has also shared the list with international agencies to enable coordinated action.

The decision has drawn mixed reactions. While some security experts have welcomed the move as a step in the right direction, others have raised concerns about the lack of a prior judicial review. The government, however, maintains that the designations are in line with international practices and will help in effectively combating terrorism.

The MHA has not released the full list publicly, citing security and operational reasons. However, official sources confirmed that all 23 individuals have been linked to terrorist networks and have been actively involved in planning and executing attacks in India and abroad.