Centre Bans Jammu Kashmir National Front Under UAPA (image: X/@AmitShah)
The central government on Tuesday imposed a ban on the Jammu Kashmir National Front (JKNF) led by Nayeem Ahmed Khan under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for a period of five years.
As per the order issued by Home Minister Amit Shah, the JKNF, a constituent of the hardline Hurriyat Conference, the organisation was declared to be an “unlawful association” with immediate effect.
In the notification issued on Tuesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs alleged that the organization is “indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty, and security of the country”. It also alleges the involvement of the members in supporting terrorist activities and anti-India propaganda for “fueling secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir and providing logistic support to terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir”.
Earlier, the National Investigation Agency arrested Naeem Khan in a terror funding case and he is among the first separationists to be jailed. Khan who was arrested on July 24, 2017, and is under judicial custody, reports NDTV.
A sting operation by a TV channel revealed Khan allegedly admitting the use of Pakistani funds to finance the 2016 unrest. And thereby, he was suspended from membership in the Geelani faction of the Hurriyat Conference.
After the action was taken against the JKNF, Home minister Amit Shah wrote on X that the organisation was carrying out “secessionist activities to sever Jammu and Kashmir from Bharat and support terrorism, challenging the sovereignty, security, and integrity of the nation”.
The Modi government today declared Jammu and Kashmir National Front as an Unlawful Association.
The outfit was found carrying out secessionist activities to sever Jammu and Kashmir from Bharat and supporting terrorism, challenging the sovereignty, security, and integrity of the…
— Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) March 12, 2024
He further added that the action was taken to uproot terror forces and to ensure the security for the people of Bharat.
In the notification released by the government, it says that the organisation indulged itself in advocating the secession of Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India and propagated false narratives and anti-national sentiments among the people of Jammu with the intention to cause disaffection against India and disrupt public order.
It also says that they have constantly asked the people of Jammu and Kashmir to refrain from elections and thereby targeted and hampered the very basic constitutionally reorganized fundamentals of Indian democracy.
