Centre puts Ram temple recce operative, Hafiz Saeed's son-in-law on terror list

NEW DELHI: The home ministry on Saturday designated 23 Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir based operatives as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, with the list including the alleged operative behind the reconnaissance of the Ram Janmabhoomi complex in Ayodhya and a close relative of Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.The action targets a network of senior Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed functionaries, launching commanders, recruiters, financiers and logistics coordinators accused of facilitating infiltration, terror financing and attacks against India.

Six of those designated are Indian nationals who are now based in Pakistan or PoJK. All 23 have been included in the Fourth Schedule of the UAPA, reported news agency PTI.Among the most prominent names is Mohammad Musaddiq, a Jaish-e-Mohammed operative known by several aliases, including Doctor and Abdul Mannan.

According to the ministry, he carried out reconnaissance of the Ram Janmabhoomi complex in Ayodhya, the RSS headquarters in Nagpur and the Indian Oil refinery in Panipat. He is also accused of serving as the launching commander for the Lasiyakot sector and facilitating infiltration through tunnels while arranging drone deliveries of arms and ammunition into India.Another key figure is Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, described as a close associate of Jaish chief Maulana Masood Azhar.

The ministry said he coordinates infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir, recruits youths through social media, raises funds for terrorism and was involved in planning the April 2022 attack on a police checkpoint near the PDP office in Sunjwan.Mufti Mohammad Asghar Khan, identified as JeM's Amir and military wing chief in PoJK, has been accused of running terrorist training camps in Muzaffarabad and conspiring in the Nagrota Army camp attack.

Hafiz Abdul Shakoor, also linked to JeM and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, allegedly facilitated the infiltration of Pakistani terrorists through the Samba-Kathua sector for the same attack.The ministry also named Abdullah Jihadi, who is accused of managing launching camps in Kupwara and Baramulla, facilitating infiltration into north Kashmir and attempting to incite anti-India sentiment.Among the six Indian nationals on the list is Firdous Ahmad Bhat, who allegedly crossed into Pakistan through the Wagah border in 2018 before joining Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Authorities said he now functions as a launching commander, recruits youths in south Kashmir and supplies weapons to overground workers.Haroon Rashid Ganai, Bilal Ahmad Mir, Abid Qayoom Lone, Nazir Ahmed Gujjar, Owais Farooz and Mohammad Shahid Faisal are among the other Indian nationals designated under the UAPA.

The ministry accused them of recruiting operatives, planning attacks, arranging arms and narcotics smuggling, facilitating drone-based weapons consignments and coordinating terror modules from across the border.Faisal, now based in Rawalpindi, is alleged to have links with Lashkar-e-Taiba, Al-Qaeda and ISIS.

The ministry said he handled the 2012 Bengaluru Lashkar conspiracy case, the 2013 Nanded Lashkar case and acted as an online handler in the 2024 Rameshwaram Cafe blast case, the Mangaluru cooker blast and the Al-Hind ISIS module case while recruiting youths through jihadist propaganda circulated on social media and messaging platforms.The list also includes several senior Lashkar and Jaish leaders.

Abdul Rauf, a senior Lashkar leader since 1999, is accused of mobilising funds globally through organisations such as the Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation and Al-Madina Welfare Trust. He has already been designated by the United States as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.Hafiz Khalid Waleed, identified as Hafiz Saeed's son-in-law, has also been designated.

The ministry accused him of masterminding the 2016 Pampore attack. He has served on Lashkar's Central Advisory Committee since 2003 and was designated a global terrorist by the United States in 2012.Others named include Ashfaq Ahmed, Maulana Imdad Ullah Makki, Maulana Saifullah Khalid, Mohammad Yaqoob, Maulana Yusuf Taibi, Qari Yaqub Sheikh, Rana Iftikhar and Wasim Noor Jat.

According to the ministry, they have played roles ranging from terror financing and recruitment to operational planning, propaganda, training and the coordination of infiltration and drone-based arms drops into India.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.