New Delhi, Mar 17:The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has released an updated list identifying 67 organizations that have been banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) due to their involvement in activities that pose a significant threat to India’s national security. These organizations have been designated either as terrorist organizations or unlawful associations for their role in extremism, militancy, and separatist movements across the country.
According to the latest update, 45 organizations have been officially categorized as terrorist organizations under Section 35 of the UAPA. These groups, which are included in the First Schedule of the Act, have been found responsible for carrying out or facilitating acts of terrorism, radicalization, and insurgency that endanger public safety and disrupt national integrity.
Additionally, 22 organizations have been classified as unlawful associations under Section 3(1) of the UAPA. These groups, though not designated as terrorist organizations, have been involved in activities that undermine national security, incite violence, or promote anti-state agendas. By being listed under this category, they are subject to strict legal action, including restrictions on their operations, financial transactions, and recruitment efforts.
Many of these organizations have been involved in militancy, separatism, and violent activities across India. The MHA keeps on updating such list. The declaration of these banned organisations is part of India’s ongoing efforts to curb terrorism and extremist activities within its borders. Organizations listed under the UAPA face strict legal action, including asset freezes and arrests of members involved in unlawful activities.
The group of outfits designated as terrorist organisations are Babbar Khalsa International; Khalistan Commando Force; Khalistan Zindabad Force; International Sikh Youth Federation; Lashkar-e-Taiba or Pasban-e-Ahle Hadis or The Resistance Front and all its manifestations and front organisations; Jaish-e-Mohammed or Tahreik-e-Furqan or People’s Anti-Fascist-Front (PAFF) and all its manifestations and front organisations; Harkat-ul-Mujahideen or Harkat-ul-Ansar or Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami or Ansar-ul-Ummah; Hizb-ul-Mujahideen or Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Pir Panjal Regiment; Al-Umar-Mujahideen; Jammu and Kashmir Islamic Front; United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA); National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) in Assam; People Liberation Army (PLA); United National Liberation Front (UNLF); People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK); Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP); Kanglei Yaol Kanba Lup (KYKL); Manipur Peoples Liberation Front (MPLF); All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF); National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT); Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE); Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), Deendar Anjuman; Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)-Peoples War, all its formations and front organisations; Maoist Communist Centre (MCC), all its formations and front organisations; Al Badr; Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen; Al-Qaida or Al-Qaida in Indian Sub-Continent (AQIS) and all its manifestations. Dukhtaran-e-Milat (DEM); Tamil Nadu Liberation Army (TNLA); Tamil National Retrieval Troops (TNRT); Akhil Bharat Nepali Ekta Samaj (ABNES); and organisations listed in the Schedule to the UN Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism (Implementation of Security council Resolutions) order, 2007 made under Section 2 of the United Nations (Security Council) Act, 1947 and amended from time to time; as well as Communist Party of India (Maoist) all its formations and front organisations, Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), all its formations and front organisations; Kamatapur LIberation Organisation, all its formations and front organisations; Islamic State or Islamic State of Iraq and Levant or Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or Daish, and all its manifestations; National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), all its formations and front organisations; The Khalistan Liberation Force and all its manifestaions; Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM); Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh or Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen India or Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Hindustan and all its manifestations; Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force (JKGF) and all its manifestations and front organisations; Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and all its manifestations anf front organisations; and Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) and all its manifestations and front organisations are other terrorist groups named in the list as designated organisations.
The groups declared as unlawful associations are Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI); United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA); All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF); National Liberation Front (NLFT); Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC); Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE); National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khapiang); Islamic Research Foundation (IRF); Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir; Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (Mohd Yasin Malik faction); Sikhs For Justice (SFJ); Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party; Muslim League Jammu Kashmir (Masrat Alam faction); Tahreek-e-Hurriyat, Jammu and Kashmir; Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Bhat faction); Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Sumji faction); Jammu and Kashmir National Front; Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Freedom League. Besides, seven Meitei Extremist Organisations namely People’s Liberation Army and its political wing the Revolutionary People’s Front; United National Liberation Front and its armed wing, also called the ‘Red Army’; Peoples’ Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak and its Armed wing, the ‘Red Army’;Kangleipak Communist Party and its armed wing, also known as ‘Red Army’; Kanglei Yaol Kanba Lup; Coordiantion Committee; and Alliance for Socialist Unity Kangleipak are among the list of unlawful associations. Popular Front of India and its associates or affiliates or fronts including Rehab India Foundation, Campus Front of India, All India Imams Council, National Confederation of Human Rights Organization, National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala are also named in the list of unlawful associations.
Four factions of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League namely JKPL (Mukhta Ahmed Waza), JKPL (Bashir Ahmad Tota), JKPL (Ghulam Mohammad Khan alias Sopori), and JKPL (Aziz Sheikh) led by Yaqoob Sheikh are also named in the list.
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, serves as India’s primary anti-terrorism legislation, granting the government the authority to designate organizations as terrorist groups or unlawful associations. This legal framework enables law enforcement agencies to take stringent action against individuals and entities involved in activities that threaten national security, sovereignty, and public order.
Since its enactment, the UAPA has undergone multiple amendments to enhance its effectiveness in tackling terrorism and extremist activities. Notably, following the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, the Act was significantly strengthened to include more stringent measures for identifying and prosecuting terrorist organizations and individuals involved in anti-national activities. These amendments have bolstered India’s counterterrorism efforts by expanding the scope of preventive measures and legal actions against groups engaged in radicalization, insurgency, and organized terror networks.
The designation of an organization as a terrorist group under the UAPA carries severe legal and financial repercussions. Once a group is declared a banned entity, its operations are prohibited across India, its financial assets and bank accounts are frozen, and its members are restricted from soliciting funds, recruiting individuals, or spreading propaganda. Additionally, individuals found to be associated with these banned outfits face prosecution under stringent anti-terror laws, which include severe penalties and long-term imprisonment.
Recognizing the ever-evolving nature of terrorism and extremist threats, the Indian government periodically updates the list of banned organizations. This ensures that newly emerging terror networks, separatist outfits, and insurgent groups are swiftly identified and placed under legal scrutiny. By continuously monitoring and revising this list, India remains committed to safeguarding national security and countering threats posed by domestic and transnational extremist elements.