Amit Shah-led Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) today declared nine individuals trying to revive militancy in Punjab through the Khalistan movement as designated terrorists under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) thus "reinforcing the commitment to strengthening national security and its policy of zero tolerance to terrorism" under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Central Government had amended the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 in August 2019, to include the provision of designating an individual as a terrorist. Prior to this amendment, only organizations could be designated as terrorist organizations. Shah, during the debate in Parliament last year on the amendment to the act, had strongly expressed the Modi Government’s commitment to firmly fight the menace of terrorism and had unequivocally reaffirmed the nation’s resolve on this matter.
By invoking the said amended provision, in September 2019, the Central Government designated four individuals as terrorists, viz. Maulana Masood Azhar, Hafeez Saeed, Zaki-ur-RehmanLakhvi and Dawood Ibrahim. A Home Ministry statement said: "Reinforcing the commitment to strengthening national security and its policy of zero tolerance to terrorism, nine individuals have been declared as designated terrorists" and their names included in the Fourth Schedule of the said Act.
The details of nine men are: 1. Wadhawa Singh Babbar: Pakistan-based Chief of terrorist organization, “BabbarKhalsa International”. 2. Lakhbir Singh: Pakistan-based Chief of terrorist organization, “International Sikh Youth Federation”. 3. Ranjeet Singh: Pakistan-based Chief of terrorist organization, “Khalistan Zindabad Force”. 4. Paramjit Singh: Pakistan-based Chief of terrorist organization “Khalistan Commando Force”. 5. Bhupinder Singh Bhinda: Germany-based key member of terrorist organization, “Khalistan Zindabad Force”. 6. Gurmeet Singh Bagga: Germany-based key member of terrorist organisation, “Khalistan ZindabadForce”. 7. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun: USA-based key member of Unlawful Association, “Sikh for Justice”. 8. Hardeep Singh Nijjar: Canada-based Chief of “Khalistan Tiger Force”. 9. Paramjit Singh: United Kingdom-based Chief of terrorist organization,“BabbarKhalsa International”.
The Home Ministry said that "these individuals are involved in various acts of terrorism from across the border and from foreign soil. They have been relentless in their nefarious efforts of destabilizing the country, by trying to revive militancy in Punjab through their anti national activities and through their support to and involvement in the Khalistan Movement."
