Militants face action under UAPA as 10 declared terrorists

SRINAGAR — The Government of India on Tuesday declared 10 militants, presently staying in Pakistan, as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act – 1967.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs today notified 10 militants of different groups operating in Jammu & Kashmir as terrorists under the UAPA. These militants faced action from the Centre on the day when Union Home Minister Amit Shah is in Kashmir.

The notifications accessed by the news agency KNO reveal that Showkat Ahmad Sheikh alias Showkat Mochi, who is operating as chief launching commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, has been declared a terrorist under the UAPA. As per MHA, Showkat is involved in coordinating infiltration and requirement of militants and execution of militant attacks, owing to his deep network of associates in north Kashmir. Showkat is resident of Baramulla town.

Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo alias Sajad alias Fayaz of Sopore town has also been declared a terrorist under UAPA. Imtiyaz, as per MHA, is involved in managing finances for the militants, supply of arms and ammunition to militants and narcotics smuggling.

The MHA has also said that he is coordinating attacks on security forces and civilians, in which many security forces personnel and civilians were killed, besides he has been involved in radicalizing and motivating youths to join militant ranks to carry out militant activities in the Kashmir Valley.

Bashir Ahmad Peer of Kupwara has also been notified as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for his role in militancy and for providing logistics to the banned outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideen for infiltration in Kupwara.

Habibullah Malik of village Shangamanga, district Kasur, Pakistan, who is associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)/ The Resistance Front (TRF), also figures in the list. According to the MHA, he has been found involved in radicalizing Kashmiri youths and recruiting them into militancy through his network.

Basit Reshi, a resident of Yemberzalwari Shiva Dangerpora of Baramulla district, also figures in the list of militants declared as terrorists under the UAPA. According to the MHA, Reshi planned and executed an attack on a police guard post of shrine Baba Ali Raina at Tujjar Sharief Peth Astan in Sopore on August 18, 2015, in which one police personnel and a civilian were killed.

Bilal Ahmad Beigh alias Babar, son of Mohammad Yusuf Beigh, belonging originally to Beigh Mohalla, Aloochibagh, Srinagar, also figures in the list of 10 militants. Bilal, who is presently residing at Lower Bazar, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, is chief of the Jammu and Kashmir Islamic Front (JKIF). According to MHA, he is involved in the smuggling of arms and ammunition into Jammu and Kashmir.

“He has close contacts with notorious underworld entities and he uses the channels to transfer funds from abroad to Kashmir,” the MHA said, adding that he is involved in the financing of militancy activities in Jammu and Kashmir and recruitment of Kashmiri youths for militant outfits.

Zafar Iqbal alias Salim alias Jamaldeen alias Shamsher Nai alias Shamsher Khan, son of Alafdin, belonging originally to village Gunthal, Surankote, Poonch has also been declared a terrorist under the law. Zaffar is operational commander of Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami/Jammu Kashmir Ghaznavi Force and is involved in supervising narcotics and weapon smuggling, the MHA said.

According to MHA, Irshad Ahmad alias Idrees son of Ghulam Mohammad Itoo, belonging originally to Gawari Kulhanda, Udhyanpora, tehsil Bagia Barth, district Doda, presently residing at Islamabad Pakistan, is launching commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. The MHA said Irshad Ahmad is also a Shoora member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and is involved in coordinating training and launching activities of the outfit.

The MHA has also notified Sheikh Jameel-ur-Rehman alias Sheikh Sahab alias Rehman alias Abu Nusrat alias Fayaz Ahmed Dar, son of Ghulam Qadir Dar, belonging originally to village Lajoora, district Pulwama, presently residing in Pakistan, as a terrorist. He is chief/Amir of Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM). As per the MHA, he is involved in coordinating the activities of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) and other amalgamate at the top level.

The MHA also notified Rafiq Nai alias Sultan, son of Mohd Afsar, belonging originally to Naka Majhari, tehsil Mendhar, district Poonch, presently residing in Pakistan, as a terrorist under the law. He is a launching commander of Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen/Jammu Kashmir Ghaznavi Force. The MHA said that he is involved in the supervision of narcotics and weapons smuggling and infiltration of militants in the Poonch-Rajouri sector.