The Cabinet Committee on Security on Friday decided to ban the Yasin Malik-led Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) for “promoting” secession of the militancy-hit State from the Union of India. JKLF was banned under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)after the investigating agencies found that Malik and its outfit is “in close touch with militant outfits in Pakistan” and is supporting extremism and militancy in Jammu & Kashmir and elsewhere.
After the Pulwama terror attack, the Centre has come down hard on many Hurriyat leaders and withdrawn the security given to them. JKLF’s banning comes close on the heels of the Centre banning the Jamaat-e-Islami.
The National Investigation Agency and Enforcement Directorate had conducted searches across the country and confiscated many bank accounts and properties owned by these pro-Pakistani leaders in the Valley.
Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba said the JKLF has been banned as the Government has a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism. “The Centre in its pursuit of strong action against terrorism, has today declared JKLF (Yasin faction) as an unlawful association under the provisions of Section 3(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.Central Government has followed policy of ‘Zero Tolerance’ against terrorism and acted strongly against terrorists. Securities forces have been given free hand to deal with terrorism. Malik was the mastermind behind the purging of Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir valley and is responsible for their genocide.
“JKLF has many serious cases registered against it. This organisation is responsible for murder of 4 IAF personnel and kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed. Thirty seven FIRs have been registered by J&K Police against JKLF. Two cases, including the case of murder of IAF personnel, were registered by CBI. NIA has also registered a case, which is under investigation. JKLF continues to be actively engaged in supporting and inciting secessionism,” said Home Secretary, talking to media about the ban on JKLF.
The Home Secretary said the Government is committed to relentlessly pursuing a policy of curbing the activities of secessionist groups which are threat to the country, said Gauba The review of security of Jammu & Kashmir-based separatists would continue, he added.
Malik is, at present, lodged in Kot Balwal jail in Jammu, and is likely to face trial in the three-decade-old case of kidnapping of Rubaya Sayeed, the daughter of then Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, and gunning down of four IAF personnel in Srinagar. The JKLF was founded by Pakistani national Amanullah Khan in mid-1970 at Birmingham in the United Kingdom and came into prominence in 1971 when its member hijacked an Indian Airlines plane flying from Srinagar to Jammu.
The organisation was also involved in the kidnapping and killing of Ravindra Mhatre, an Indian diplomat posted the UK, in 1984. A week later, India executed Maqbool Bhat, a JKLF activist, who had been sentenced to death.
