Centre designates 7 men as ‘individual’ terrorists under UAPA

NEW DELHI: The Union home ministry on Tuesday declared seven Pakistan-based terrorists — associated with Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashker e Taiba affiliate The Resistance Front and Tahreek e Mujahideen — as ‘individual’ terrorists in the fourth schedule of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Four of the seven terrorists are “launching commanders” of their respective terror outfits and accused of infiltrating terrorists into J&K through Kupwara, Rajouri-Poonch and North Kashmir.
While six of the seven terrorists proscribed under UAPA hail from Kashmir, one is from Kasur district in Pakistan. One of the six Kashmiri terrorists has acquired a Pakistani national identity card and is currently based in Rawalpindi
Those seven new entries in UAPA fourth schedule are Imtiyaz Ahmad Kando, resident of Sopore in J&K and a Hizbul Mujahideen member; Showkat Ahmed Shaikh, hailing from Baramulla in J&K and operating as chief launching commander of Hizb; Basit Ahmed Reshi, resident of Baramulla and a Hizb member; Habibullah Malik, a Pakistani associated with TRF who is accused of drone-dropping arms and communication systems in Jammu region; Bashir Ahmed Peer, resident of Kupwara and Hizb launching commander who has acquired Pakistani national identity card and is currently based in Rawalpindi; Irshad Ahmed, hailing from Doda and a launching commander for Hizb; and Rafiq Nai, a launching commander for Tahreek ul Mujahideen or Jammu Kashmir Ghaznavi Force who hails from Poonch but is currently based in Pakistan.
Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo, a Hizb member based in Pakistan, has been involved in managing finances for and supplying arms and ammunition to terrorists and also in narcotics smuggling. He has coordinated attacks against and killed many security forces and civilians. Kandoo is also charged with radicalizing and motivating youths to join terrorist ranks s in the Kashmir Valley.
Showkat Ahmad Sheikh, born in 1970 in Ganie Hamam, Baramulla and presently based in Pakistan, is operating as chief launching commander of the Hizb. The MHA notification states that he has been instrumental in spreading terror in J&K; and is coordinating infiltration, recruitment of terrorists and execution of terror attacks owing to his deep network of associates in North Kashmir.
Basit Ahmad Reshi, born in Baramulla but now working for Hizb from Pakistani, has a good network of associates in his native area and uses it to coordinate terror recruitment and execution of terror attacks. He has been involved in managing arms and ammunition and terror financing from across the border and motivating youths to join terrorist ranks.
Habibullah Malik, born in 1982 at Kasur, Pakistan, is associated with Lashkar-eTaiba(LeT)/The Resistance Front(TRF). He has been involved in radicalizing Kashmiri youths and recruiting them into militancy through his network; was the key handler of terrorists who carried out attack on Indian soldiers in Bhata Dhurian, District Poonch. Malik was also involved in drone-dropping of arms and communication systems in Jammu region for terrorists. He has created a wide network of hardcore militants and has been master minding multiple terrorist attacks in the Kashmir valley including fidayeen attack against army at Hyderpora, Srinagar in June, 2013 and killing of SHO of Chadoora, Budgam in December, 2013.
Bashir Ahmad Peer hails from Kralpora, Kupwara but is presently residing at Rawalpindi, Pakistan and has a Pakistani identity number. A launching commander of Hizb, he is accused of providing logistics to terrorists associated with the outfit, especially for infiltration into Kupwara. MHA notification says he has been involved in routing funds for terrorism activities in J&K, besides engaging with online propagenda groups to unite ex-militants and other cadres for furtherance of terrorist activities.
Irshad Ahmad from Doda and presently residing at Islamabad, is a launching commander and shoora member of Hizb. He is allegedly involved in coordinating training and launching activities of terrorist organizations.
Rafiq Nai, originally from Poonch but now based in Pakistan,is a launching commander of Tahreek-ul-Mujahideen or Jammu Kashmir Ghaznavi Force. He is involved in supervision of narcotics and weapons smuggling and infiltration of terrorists in Poonch-Rajouri Sector.