Dawood Ibrahim, Jaish-e-Mohammed founder Masood Azhar, Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and Khalistan-linked figures including Goldy Brar are among individuals designated as terrorists by the Indian government under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The development involving Goldy Brar has drawn fresh attention to India’s list after the FBI on September 28 added Satinderjeet Singh alias Goldy Brar to its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list and announced a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to his arrest.
India’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) currently lists Goldy Brar at serial number 56 among individuals designated as terrorists under Section 35 of the UAPA.
How India designates individuals as terrorists
Under Section 35 of the UAPA, the Central government can designate individuals as terrorists by adding their names to the Fourth Schedule of the Act.
The MHA’s publicly available list includes individuals associated with organisations such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Babbar Khalsa International and Khalistan Zindabad Force.
Masood Azhar
Masood Azhar, also known as Maulana Mohammad Masood Azhar Alvi, is listed at serial number one on the MHA’s individual terrorist list.
He is the founder and key leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed, which is listed as a terrorist organisation under the UAPA. Azhar was also designated by the United Nations under its sanctions regime in 2019.
Hafiz Muhammad Saeed
Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, a founder and key leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba, is listed at serial number two by the MHA.
He has also been designated internationally under the UN Security Council’s sanctions framework.
Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi
Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, identified by the MHA as a key leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba, is listed at number three.
The government’s records link him to several terrorism-related cases and he is also listed under the UN sanctions regime.
Dawood Ibrahim
Underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar is listed at number four.
The MHA identifies him as an individual designated under the UAPA. He is also included in the UN Security Council’s Al-Qaida sanctions list.
Goldy Brar
Goldy Brar, whose name appears in the MHA list as Satwinder Singh alias Satinderjit Singh alias Goldy Brar, is listed at number 56. His designation was added to the Fourth Schedule in January 2024.
The FBI announced on September 28 that Brar had been added to its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. The US agency said he is wanted in connection with federal allegations including RICO conspiracy, extortion-related offences and narcotics offences, and announced a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to his arrest.
The FBI said Brar is allegedly associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi Organized Crime Group and described him as its alleged leader in North America. These are allegations contained in US federal proceedings.
Other names on India’s list
The MHA list also includes Wadhawa Singh Babbar, Lakhbir Singh alias Rode, Ranjeet Singh alias Neeta, Bhupinder Singh Bhinda, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Paramjit Singh alias Pamma, Sajid Mir and several others.
The list covers individuals associated with terrorism, organised militant networks and other activities that the Indian government has determined meet the statutory criteria for designation under the UAPA.
The MHA maintains separate lists for terrorist organisations and designated individual terrorists under the Act.
