The Centre on Tuesday declared two top Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen (HuM) terrorists including the Chief Launching Commander of the terror outfit Showkat Ahmed Sheikh as terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967 on charges of spreading terror violence in Jammu and Kashmir.
Another active member of HuM, Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo, was also declared as terrorist under the UAPA for “radicalizing and motivating youths to join terrorist ranks to carry out terror activities in the Kashmir Valley”.
Born in 1970 in Ganie Hamam area in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla, Showkat alias Showkat Mochi, son of Ghulam Nabi Sheikh, is presently based in Pakistan. Showkat is also accused of his involvement in “coordinating infiltration and recruitment of terrorists and execution of terror attacks owing to his deep network of associates in North Kashmir”.
In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 35 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notification issued on Tuesday said, the Central government declared Showkat Ahmed Sheik as a terrorist.
“The Central Government believes that Showkat Ahmad Sheikh alias Showkat Mochi is involved in terrorism and he is to be notified as a terrorist under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.”
Kandoo alias Sajad alias Fayaz Sopore, a resident of Kraltang, Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir, is presently based in Pakistan. Kandoo is also accused of his involvement in “managing finances for the terrorists, supply of arms and ammunition to terrorists and narcotics smuggling”.
He is also charged with “coordinating attacks on security forces and civilians, in which many security forces personnel and civilians were killed” in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Central government believes that Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo is involved in terrorism and he is to be notified as terrorist under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967,” reads the notification.