After Jamaat-e-Islami, Centre Bans Yasin Malik-Led JKLF

The Yasin Malik-led Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) was banned by the Centre under anti-terror law on Friday, 22 March, news agency PTI reported quoting officials.

The outfit has been banned for alleged promotion of secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir, they said.

They said the organisation has been banned under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

A notification banning the group issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, says that the organisation is:

• involved in anti-national and subversive activities intended to disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India
• is in close touch with militant outfits and is supporting extremism and militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere
• is supporting and inciting claims for secession of a part of the Indian territory from the Union and supporting terrorist and separatist groups fighting for this purpose by indulging in activities and articulations intended to disrupt the territorial integrity of India

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JKLF chief Yasin Malik is under arrest and at present lodged in Jammu’s Kot Balwal jail.

PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti questioned the ban saying Yasin Malik, who had already renounced violence, was treated as a stakeholder by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Yasin Malik renounced violence as a way of resolving J&K issue a long time ago. He was treated as a stakeholder in a dialogue initiated by then PM Vajpayee ji. What will a ban on his organisation achieve? Detrimental steps like these will only turn Kash into an open air prison.

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) March 22, 2019

This is the second organisation in Jammu and Kashmir which has been banned this month. Earlier, the Centre had banned the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir.

History of JKLF

The JKLF was formed with the objective of seeking the independence of Kashmir from both India and Pakistan. in 1977, with Amanullah Khan as its head. Maqbool Bhatt is often regarded as the co-founder of the group.

The group gained popularity among the Kashmiri youth after the allegedly rigged state elections of 1987.

However by 1992, JKLF found itself under attack from both India and Pakistan and all its top leaders including Yasin Malik were jailed.

After release from prison on bail in May 1994, Yasin Malik declared an indefinite ceasefire of the JKLF.

Malik's call for peaceful struggle was unacceptable to Amanullah Khan, who removed him as the president of JKLF. In return, Malik expelled Khan from the chairmanship. Thus JKLF had split into two factions.

(With inputs from PTI, Caravan and BBC)