'Carrying Out Secessionist Activities': Govt Bans J&K-Based Group Under UAPA

The Centre banned the Jammu Kashmir National Front led by Nayeem Ahmad Khan under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Source : pti

The Centre on Tuesday banned the Jammu Kashmir National Front led by Nayeem Ahmad Khan under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. In an order, the Ministry of Home Affairs declared the JKNF, a constituent of the hardline Hurriyat Conference, an "unlawful association" with immediate effect.

The government said the JKNF has been "indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty, and security of the country." It said members of the JKNF have remained involved in supporting terrorist activities and anti-India propaganda for fuelling secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir and providing logistic support to terrorists in the Union territory.

Ministry of Home Affairs declared Jammu Kashmir National Front (JKNF) as an ‘unlawful association’ with immediate effect under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for a period of five years. pic.twitter.com/oqyftUszex

— ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2024

It also said JKNF members "have been involved in mobilising violent protesters in various parts of Kashmir for perpetrating unlawful activities, including supporting terrorist activities, sustained stone pelting on security forces." The order will have effect for a period of five years.

Following the ban, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that JKNF was found carrying out secessionist activities to sever Jammu and Kashmir from Bharat.

JKNF was found carrying out secessionist activities to sever Jammu and Kashmir from Bharat: Home Minister Amit Shah after ban on outfit

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 12, 2024

The Ministry said that the members of the JKNF have remained involved in supporting terrorist activities and anti-India propaganda for fuelling secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir and providing logistic support to terrorists in the Union Territory.

"The leaders and members of the JKNF have been involved in mobilising violent protesters in various parts of Kashmir for perpetrating unlawful activities, including supporting terrorist activities, sustained stone-pelting on Security Forces in Jammu and Kashmir," reads the MHA notification.

It also stated that the JKNF has constantly asked the people of Kashmir to refrain from taking part in elections and thereby targeted and hampered the very basic constitutionally recognized fundamentals of Indian democracy.

"The JKNF and its members by their activities show sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority and constitutional set-up of the country. The JKNF is involved in promoting, aiding and abetting secession of Jammu and Kashmir from India by involving in anti-national and subversive activities; sowing seeds of disaffection amongst people; exhorting people to destabilise law and order; encouraging the use of arms to separate Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India; promoting hatred against established Government and giving clarion call to boycott elections on multiple occasions in the union territory," mentioned the notification.

It further stated "The Central Government thinks that if there is no immediate curb or control of unlawful activities of the JKNF, it will use this opportunity to continue with the anti-national activities which are detrimental to the territorial integrity, security and sovereignty of the country, and, will continue advocating the secession of Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India while disputing its accession to the same."