Terror groups Khalistan Tiger Force, J&K Ghaznavi Force banned

The home ministry on Friday outlawed the Khalistan Tiger Force and the Jammu and the Kashmir Ghaznavi Force (JKGF), and declared Harwinder Singh Sandhu a "terrorist".

The action was taken under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, according to a notification issued by the ministry. "In exercise of the powers conferred by the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Ministry of Home Affairs today declared one more individual Harwinder Singh Sandhu, alias Rinda, as terrorist and two organisations--Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) & Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force (JKGF)--as terrorist organisations," the notification said.

The ministry said Sandhu has been associated with Babbar Khalsa International and is based in Lahore, Pakistan, under patronage of cross-border agencies and has been found involved in terrorist activities, particularly in Punjab.


Sandhu is alleged to be one of the masterminds of the 2021 attack on the intelligence headquarters of Punjab Police. A Red Corner Notice was also issued against Sandhu by the Interpol.

So far, 54 persons have been declared as "terrorist" under the IVth Schedule of the UAPA.

In its notification, the ministry said the JKGF has been involved in infiltration bids, narcotics and weapon smuggling, carrying out terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, and regularly issuing threats to security forces.

The outfit has also been using social media platforms to incite the people of Jammu and Kashmir to join terrorist outfits working against India.

"It draws its cadres from various terrorist organisations, like Lashker-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen, & Harkat-ul-Jehad-E-Islami," the ministry said in the notification.

On KTF, the notification said it is a militant outfit and "aims to revive terrorism in Punjab and challenges the territorial integrity, unity, national security and sovereignty of India and promotes various acts of terrorism, including targeted killings in Punjab".