Indian govt bans Yasin Malik’s JKLF

HELD SRINAGAR: The Indian government on Friday banned the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) for “promoting secessionist activities” in Indian Held Kashmir (IHK), the Washington Post reported.

The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs in its statement said, “The central government today declared JKLF as an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. This is in accordance with our policy of zero tolerance against terrorism.” “JKLF is involved in anti-national and subversive activities intended to disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India,” it added.

The statement added if the JKLF's activities are not curbed, it was likely that the group would "continue advocating the secession of the state of Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of dia". "The central government is of the opinion that having regard to the activities of JKLF, it is necessary to declare the JKLF to be an unlawful association with immediate effect," it added. Last month, JKLF leader Yasin Malik was arrested and charged under the Public Safety Act, which stipulates that a person can be jailed for up to two years without bail. Earlier in February, the Indian authorities banned the socio-religious organisation Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) in the IHK. The situation in IHK has worsened in the aftermath of the February 14 Pulwama attack, which killed over 40 Indian soldiers.