Recent designations by Indian authorities have highlighted the involvement of various individuals in terrorist activities, with a notable case emerging from Bengaluru. Among those identified is a software engineer who now resides in Pakistan,along with several other nationals accused of engaging in and facilitating terrorism.
This development expands the number of individuals classified under anti-terrorism laws to a total of 80,as confirmed by the Union Home Minister . Home Ministry's announcement clarified that these individuals are implicated in range of operations, from logistics and planning to recruitment and financing for terrorist groups operating against India.
The individual from Bengaluru, identified as Mohammed Shaheed Faisal,40,has been linked to multiple terrorist organizations,including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Faisal has purportedly collaborated with both Al-Qaeda and ISIS, focusing on recruitment and financial support for their operations.
His activities reportedly include training new recruits in skills such as data encryption and creating fake documents to avoid detection . Faisal is also accused of supplying weaponry and orchestrating plots targeting civilians. Authorities have linked him to a specific incident involving an improvised explosive device at The Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru in March 2024. National Investigation Agency has been pursuing Faisal since 2012, offering a reward of ₹10 lakh for information leading to his arrest.
Faisal's educational background includes an engineering degree from Ramaiah Institute of Technology in Bengaluru,where he studied between 2004 and 2008 before embarking on career as a software engineer. He later moved to Saudi Arabia but has remained outside of India since his departure.
Other individuals designated as terrorists from India include five from Jammu and Kashmir, such as Firdous Ahmad Bhat,33,from Kulgam,and Haroon Rashid Ganai,36,from Anantnag,among others.
In the group of Pakistanis named,Masood Ilyas Kashmiri,associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed, has been cited for recruiting young people and aiding in their infiltration into India. He is also suspected of involvement in a significant attack on a military installation in April 2022. Additionally, Mohammed Mussadiq is accused of providing arms linked to a previous assault on a military camp in 2016.
Other designated individuals include Hafiz Abdul Shakoor,responsible for recruitment efforts and training, and Abdullah Jehadi,who has managed terror camps and coordinated attacks. Ghulam Fareed has been identified as a supplier of arms, while Ashfaq Ahmad is said to have provided technical support to terrorist operations.
Among senior members of Lashkar-e-Taiba recognized in this latest categorization is Abdul Rauf,a significant operative under group's leadership. list also features Hafiz Khalid Waleed, connected to past attacks, and Maulana Saifullah Khalid, who has ties to various factions of Jamaat-ud-Dawah. Furthermore, individuals such as Mohammad Yaqoob and Qari Yaqub Sheikh have been pointed out for their logistical support and involvement in anti-India activities.
Maulana Yousaf Taibi, another prominent figure linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jamaat-ud-Dawah, has also been designated for his role in orchestrating terrorist conspiracies.
