MHA declares Pak-based Shahzad Bhatti Network a terrorist group under UAPA

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) declared Pakistan-based Shahzad Bhatti Network as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

• A gazette notification issued by the MHA invoked Section 35(1)(a) of the UAPA to add Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) to the First Schedule of the Act, which lists banned terrorist organisations.

• SBN is an organisation whose objective is to involve gullible youth and local criminals to smuggle arms, explosives, and narcotics from across the border, and through terrorist activities, pose a serious threat to the democratic system, communal harmony, and internal security of the country, the MHA notification said.

• Under the UAPA, the addition of an outfit to the First Schedule formally places it among the organisations designated “terrorist” under Indian law. 

• With the latest addition, the number of terrorist organisations listed in the First Schedule to the UAPA is 46.

What is the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act?

• Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is an anti-terror law aimed at the effective prevention of unlawful activities of individuals and 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 the then 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.

• 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.