GOVERNMENT DECLARES 18 MORE INDIVIDUALS AS DESIGNATED TERRORISTS UNDER UAPA

GOVERNMENT DECLARES 18 MORE INDIVIDUALS AS DESIGNATED TERRORISTS UNDER UAPA

Context

18 more individuals have been declared as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Details

The Government of India has declared eighteen more individuals as designated terrorists under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967.

Government had amended the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 in August 2019, to include the provision of designating an individual as a terrorist. Prior to this amendment, only organizations could be designated as terrorist organizations.After the amendment, the government had designated four individuals in September, 2019 and nine individuals in July, 2020 as terrorists.

Under the Act, the central government may designate an organisation as a terrorist organisation if it: (i) commits or participates in acts of terrorism, (ii) prepares for terrorism, (iii) promotes terrorism, or (iv) is otherwise involved in terrorism.  The Bill additionally empowers the government to designate individuals as terrorists on the same grounds.