Centre imposes ban on Tehreek-e-Hurriyat under UAPA

SRINAGAR — The Centre on Sunday banned the J&K Tehreek-e-Hurriyat for a period of five years under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

In a post on X, Home Minister Amit Shah said that the outfit is involved in forbidden activities to separate J&K from India and establish Islamic rule. He said that the group is found spreading anti-India propaganda and continuing terror activities to fuel secessionism in J&K.

“Under PM Modi’s zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, any individual or organisation found involved in anti-India activities will be thwarted forthwith,” he said.

A gazette notification of India, a copy of which is in possession of Srinagar-based news agency KDC, reads, “The Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Jammu and Kashmir (hereinafter referred to as the TeH), is known for its involvement in fomenting terrorism and anti-India propaganda for fuelling the secessionist activities in the Jammu and Kashmir.”

It added, “The objective of TeH is to separate Jammu and Kashmir from India and establish Islamic rule in Jammu and Kashmir. The leaders and members of the TeH have been involved in raising funds through various sources including Pakistan and its proxy organizations for perpetrating unlawful activities, including supporting terrorist activities, sustained stone-pelting on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir”

“TeH and its members by their activities show sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority and constitutional set up of the country. The TeH members are paying tributes to terrorists who were killed in encounters with security forces and its members have been involved in supporting terrorist activities with the intent to create a reign of terror in the region, thereby endangering the security and public order of the State,” it said.

It went on to state, “The TeH and its leaders and members have been indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty, security and communal harmony of the country. The TeH never believed in a democratic system of governance and TeH leadership gave repeated calls to boycott assembly elections on multiple occasions.”

The notification further states, “The Central Govt is of the opinion that if there is no immediate curb or control of unlawful activities of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Jammu and Kashmir, it will use this opportunity to continue advocating the secession of Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India while disputing its accession to the Union of India; and continue with the anti-national activities which are detrimental to the territorial integrity, security and sovereignty of the country; and continue propagating false narrative and anti-national sentiments among the people of Jammu and Kashmir with the intention to cause disaffection against India and disrupt public order.”

The notification mentioned that the Central Government for the above-mentioned reasons is firmly of the opinion that having regard to the activities of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir (TeH), it is necessary to declare the Tehreek-e­ Hurriyat, Jammu and Kashmir (TeH), as unlawful association with immediate effect.

“Therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of the section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the Central Government hereby declares the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Jammu and Kashmir (TeH), as an unlawful association,” the notification declared.

“The Central Government, having regard to the above circumstances, is of firm opinion that it is necessary to declare the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Jammu and Kashmir (TeH), as ‘unlawful association’ with immediate effect, and accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 3 of the said Act, the Central Government hereby directs that this notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the said Act, have effect for a period of five years from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette,” reads the notification.