New Delhi: Militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba’s (LeT) member Sheikh Sajad alias Sajjad Gul, who took part in the conspiracy to kill journalist Shujaat Bukhari in Srinagar in 2018, was designated as a militant by the Centre on Tuesday.
Gul is the sixth individual to have been designated as a militant by the Centre in the last fortnight.
The Union home ministry said Gul is absconding in a case pertaining to recovery of arms and ammunition in Jammu and Kashmir and has been actively radicalising, motivating and recruiting youngsters in J&K to support the LeT. He has also been involved in militant funding, the ministry said.
Gul was found involved in hatching a criminal conspiracy, in connivance with other members of the LeT, to eliminate Bukhari, a prominent journalist, along with two of his personal security officers, at the busy Press Enclave area of Srinagar on June 14, 2018, the ministry said in a notification.
Considering his militant activities, the home ministry designated Gul as a militant under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967).
Born on October 10, 1974, Gul hails from the Rose Avenue Colony HMT Shalteng in Srinagar, and is one of the commanders of the LeT. He is the 37th individual to have been declared as a designated militant by the Centre.
“Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 35 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the central government hereby makes the following amendment in the Fourth Schedule to the said Act, namely:- In the Fourth Schedule to the said Act, after serial number 36 and entries relating thereto, the following serial number and entries shall be inserted, namely: ’37. Sheikh Sajad @Sheikh Sajjad Gul @Sajjad Gul @Sajjad Ah Sheikh’,” the notification read. With the declaration of Gul as a militant, the law-enforcement agencies can now attach his properties, besides booking any person associated with him.
