India revises list of 67 banned terrorist, unlawful organizations
What's the story
India's Home Ministry has issued a fresh list of 67 organizations banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.
These groups have been banned due to their terror-related activities and threats to national security.
The most recent revision lists 45 entities as terrorist organizations under Section 35 of the UAPA in the First Schedule of the Act.
The other 22 are unlawful associations under Section 3(1) of UAPA.
Group details
List includes various militant and extremist groups
The list includes several militant, separatist, and extremist outfits that have engaged in violent activities across various parts of the country.
Those declared as terrorist entities include Babbar Khalsa International, Khalistan Commando Force, Khalistan Zindabad Force, International Sikh Youth Federation, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Al-Umar Mujahideen, and Jammu and Kashmir Islamic Front.
Global threats
International terrorist organizations also included
The revised list also comprises international terror outfits such as Al-Qaeda, Islamic State (ISIS), and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and their branches and manifestations.
These outfits are known for their violent activities and militancy, which endanger national security.
The inclusion of these international organizations paves the legal way for India's fight against global terror on its soil.
Association details
Unlawful associations include SIMI, LTTE, and IRF
Some of the unlawful associations listed are Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF - Mohd Yasin Malik faction).
Several northeastern Indian insurgent groups, including the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), People's Liberation Army (PLA), are also listed.
Law enforcement
Legal implications and counter-terrorism measures
Terrorist organizations under UAPA are subject to harsh legal consequences such as freezing of assets, prohibition on raising funds and recruiting, and prosecution of constituents.
The law has been amended several times to make its provisions stronger, particularly in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
Such periodic updating of designation helps India to guard against evolving threats from militant and extremist organizations operating both within and outside its territory.