Lashkar-E-Taiba's Arbaz Mir, Main Conspirator In Kulgam Teacher’s Killing, Declared Terrorist By Govt

The Union Home Ministry designated Arbaz Mir, a Lashkar-e-Taiba member, as an individual terrorist and banned the People's Anti-Fascist Front, a proxy outfit of the terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed.

File Photo of tributes paid to government teacher Rajni Bala, in Jammu, June 1, 2022. Rajni was shot at allegedly by terrorists in the Kulgam district of Kashmir Valley.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry on Friday banned the People's Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), a proxy outfit of the terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed, for its involvement in terror acts in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere. The Ministry also designated Arbaz Ahmad Mir, a Lashkar-e-Taiba member, as an individual terrorist under the stringent anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

In a notification, the Union Home Ministry informed that it has designated Arbaz Ahmad Mir, involved in target killings in J&K, as an individual terrorist, news agency PTI reported.

Mir hails from Jammu and Kashmir but is presently based in Pakistan and is working for the banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba. He has emerged as the main conspirator in the killing of a woman teacher, Rajni Bala, in Kulgam of Jammu and Kashmir a few months ago, the MHA notification mentioned.

Rajni Bala (36) belonged to Samba district and was posted at a government school in Gopalpora where she was shot in the head by terrorists in May 2022. She succumbed to her injuries at a hospital.

Source: ANI

He has been involved in coordinating terrorism in the Kashmir Valley and supporting terrorists by transporting illegal arms or ammunition or explosives from across the border, the ministry stated.

The central government believes that Mir has been involved in terrorism and therefore exercising the powers conferred by clause (a) of sub-section 1) of section 35 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 designated him as an individual terrorist, the notification mentioned.

Centre Bans Lashkar's 'Proxy' PAFF Outfit

In a separate notification, the home ministry stated that the PAFF has been regularly issuing threats to security forces, political leaders, and civilians working in Jammu and Kashmir from other states.

The PAFF, along with other organisations, is involved in pro-actively conspiring both physically and on social media to undertake violent terrorist acts in Jammu and Kashmir and major cities in India, it mentioned.

"Along with other organisations, the PAFF is indulging in radicalisation of impressionable youth for recruitment and training in handling guns, ammunition and explosives. The group has also been involved in terrorism. It has committed and participated in various acts of terrorism in India," the ministry stated, as per PTI.

Therefore, exercising the powers conferred by clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 35 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the central government declared the PAFF a banned organisation, it informed.

(With Agency Inputs)