The Delhi High Court, in a significant ruling, stated that terrorism encompasses all activities intended to instill terror within society. The observation was made while hearing the appeal of an Al-Qaeda operative accused of plotting to assassinate RSS-BJP leaders.
The court highlighted that there was sufficient evidence linking the appellant, an Indian national, to the primary accused who had procured a Pakistani passport and visited Pakistan. The accused was alleged to be part of a larger network involved in inflammatory speeches, dissemination of provocative materials, recruiting individuals for terrorist activities, and fostering hatred against India and its political leaders.
The court noted that involvement with Pakistan-based organizations, conspiracies with individuals linked to terrorist groups, and activities aimed at spreading terror fall under the definition of terrorism.
Under Section 15 of the UAPA, “acts committed with the intent to create terror” are clearly defined as terrorism, even if the individual does not directly work for a banned organization. Those associated with or inclined toward such groups can also be included in the terror list, as per the law.
The judgment clarified that terrorism includes any acts planned to incite terror, even if they are executed years after being conceived.
