Centre declares Harwinder Rinda terrorist, bans JK Ghaznavi Force for terror acts

New Delhi, February 17: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), under the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on Friday declared Punjab's Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda as a terrorist, Centre also declares two organisations, Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force (JKGF), as terrorist organisations.

Sandhu has been associated with Babbar Khalsa International and is currently based in Lahore, Pakistan. He has been involved in a number of terrorist activities, particularly in Punjab.

Sandhu is accused of being one of the masterminds behind a 2021 attack on the Punjab Police intelligence headquarters. Interpol also issued a Red Corner Notice against him.

Moreover, the Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force (JKGF) has also been banned by the Centre under the stringent anti-terror law. JKGF has been formed with cadres from terrorist organisations such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

According to a ministry notification, the JKGF has been involved in infiltration bids, drug and weapon smuggling, terror attacks on Union territory, and threats to security forces.

According to the home ministry, the JKGF recruits from various proscribed terrorist organisations such as the Lashker-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen, Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami, and others.