India declares 26/11 attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed's son a terrorist, details here

26/11 attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed. (Photo credit: Reuters)

New Delhi: Mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks Hafiz Mohammad Saeed’s son Hafiz Talha Saeed has been declared a designated terrorist by India. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 added Talha Saeed’s name to the list.

Hafiz Talha Saeed was a senior leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and head of the cleric wing of the terror outfit.

According to the MHA notification, Talha Saeed has been "actively involved in recruitment, fund collection, planning and executing attacks by LeT in India and Indian interests in Afghanistan.

"The Central Government believes that Hafiz Talha Saeed is involved in terrorism and Hafiz Talha Saeed should be notified as a terrorist under the said Act," said the MHA notification.

Hafiz Saeed sentenced to 31 years in jail in Pakistan

The home ministry’s notification came on the day that Talha`s father and the chief of the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) Hafiz Saeed were sentenced to 31 years in jail by a Pakistan anti-terrorism court.

The MHA notification further said that Talha Saeed has been "actively visiting various LeT centres across Pakistan and during his sermons propagating for jihad against India, Israel, the United States of America and Indian interests in other western countries."

UAPA amendment 2019

Notably, the Central 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. Now, the government can designate individuals as terrorists.

Ever since the amendment, the Ministry has stamped nine individuals as designated terrorists under provisions of the UAPA Act in July 2020.

Other terrorists to be designated under UAPA Act

The nine individuals who were designated terrorists in July 2020 include Wadhwa Singh Babbar, Pakistan based Chief of "BabbarKhalsa International", Lakhbir Singh, Pakistan based Chief of "International Sikh Youth Federation", Ranjeet Singh, Pakistan based Chief of "Khalistan Zindabad Force", Paramjit Singh, Pakistan based Chief of "Khalistan Commando Force", Bhupinder Singh Bhinda, Germany based key member of "Khalistan Zindabad Force", Gurmeet Singh Bagga, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canada based Chief of "Khalistan Tiger Force", and Paramjit Singh, United Kingdom-based Chief of "BabbarKhalsa International".