Nine Separatist Groups in Jammu and Kashmir Declared Illegal by Government
Union Ministry of Home Affairs Utilizes UAPA to Crack Down on Activities Undermining National Unity, Taking Action Against Notorious Organizations
Bashir Ahmad Beigh
Srinagar: In a concerted effort to eradicate the scourge of separatism from the grassroots level in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has adopted a stringent approach over the past five years, utilizing the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. During this period, nine separatist groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir have been officially declared as illegal associations.
The crackdown began on February 18, 2019, when the Union Home Ministry proscribed Jamaat-e-Islami, a cadre-based organization with a widespread presence across Kashmir, citing its involvement in activities aimed at undermining the territorial integrity of India. Subsequently, on March 22, 2019, the Ministry designated the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) as an “extremist and terrorist” outfit, accusing it of advocating separatism and engaging in anti-national endeavors.
Continuing its assertive stance, on October 5, 2023, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs issued a ban on the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) led by incarcerated separatist leader Shabbir Ahmad Shah, citing its involvement in activities perceived as anti-India and pro-Pakistan. A similar fate befell the Musrat Alam-led Muslim League on December 28, 2023, as it was outlawed for its hostile and separatist activities.
Further consolidating its actions, the Ministry, on December 31, 2023, outlawed Tehreek Hurriyat (TeH), once headed by the late separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, followed by the banning of Muslim Conference Jammu Kashmir (Samji Faction) and Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (BUT Faction) on February 28, 2024, on charges of terrorism, previously known as Hurriyat (C) and Hurriyat (M) respectively before August 5, 2019.
The government’s crackdown intensified as it proceeded to ban the Jammu and Kashmir National Front (Naeem Khan) on March 12, 2023, citing its involvement in activities deemed detrimental to the integrity, sovereignty, and security of the nation. This trend continued on March 16, 2024, when the Government of India declared four factions of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s League (JKPL) and the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Freedom League (JKPFL) as illegal associations under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act-1967.
Specifically, the factions of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s League, namely JKPL (Mukhtar Ahmad Waza), JKPL (Bashir Ahmad Tota), JKPL (Ghulam Muhammad Khan Sopoori), also known as Jammu and Kashmir People’s Political League, and JKPPL (Aziz Sheikh) under the leadership of Yakub Sheikh, were banned, alongside the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Freedom League headed by Farooq Rahmani. These measures underscore the government’s unwavering commitment to curbing separatist tendencies and ensuring the security and integrity of the nation.
