Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared nine individuals linked to separatist Khalistani organisations, including four based in Pakistan, as designated terrorists under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Who all are declared as designated terrorists?

* Wadhawa Singh Babbar, chief of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).

* Lakhbir Singh, chief of International Sikh Youth Federation.

* Ranjeet Singh, chief of Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZB). 

* Paramjit Singh, chief of Khalistan Commando Force.

All these four are Pakistan-based terrorist organisations, said MHA.

The others are: 

* Bhupinder Singh Bhinda, key member of Germany-based  Khalistan Zindabad Force.

* Gurmeet Singh Bagga, key member of Germany-based  Khalistan Zindabad Force.

* Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, key member of US-based unlawful association Sikh for Justice.

* Hardeep Singh Nijjar, chief of  Canada-based Khalistan Tiger Force. 

* Paramjit Singh, chief of UK-based Babbar Khalsa International. 

The ministry of home affairs said these individuals are operating from Pakistan and other foreign soil and involved in various acts of terrorism.

They have been relentless in their nefarious efforts of destabilising 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, it said.

What is the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act?

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is an anti-terror law aimed at the effective prevention of unlawful activities associations in India. Its main objective is to make powers available for dealing with activities directed against the integrity and sovereignty of India.

It was passed in 1967 under the Congress government led by PM Indira Gandhi. Later, amendments were brought in under the UPA governments in 2004, 2008 and 2013.

In August 2019, the President gave approval to The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2019. 

The amended Act included provision of designating an individual as a terrorist. Prior to this amendment, only organisations could be designated as terrorist organisations.

During the discussion in Parliament, Home Minister Amit Shah said that only those individuals who participate in terrorist activities, aid those indulging in such activities, propagate the ideology of terrorism and members of known terrorist organisations will be declared as terrorists.

He added that terrorism is a global problem and the UN along with several other countries, have provisions in their laws to designate individuals as terrorists.

Following the amendment, the central government designated four individuals as terrorists — Maulana Masood Azhar, Hafeez Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Dawood Ibrahim.

The amendment gave powers to the director general of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to attach properties acquired from proceeds of terrorism. Earlier, the law required that the NIA take prior permission from the respective state police chief to attach the proceeds of terrorism.

Also, the International Convention for Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (2005) has been added in the Second Schedule through the amendment.

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