The Centre has declared Jammu and Kashmir De mocratic Freedom Party ( JKDFP), founded by separatist leader Shabbir Ah mad Shah as an “unlawful association” under the an titerror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The ban is effective for five years.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that the members of JKDFP have been at the forefront of se cessionist activities in Jam mu and Kashmir and want to create a “separate Islam ic State”.
The Ministry said that the outfit has been in volved in antinational ac tiities since 1998 and its members have always pro moted separatism and ter rorist acts in India. Many criminal cases have been registered against the out fit under various sections of the UAPA, the Indian Pe nal Code, the Arms Act and the Ranbir Penal Code.
The MHA, in a notifica tion, said that JKDFP has been involved in raising funds through various sources for perpetrating unlawful activities and sup porting terrorist activities. It added that JKDFP, its leaders or members, and particularly its founder Shabbir Ahmad Shah, have been indulging in unlawful activities, which are pre judicial to the integrity, vereignty, security and communal harmony of the country. Mr. Shah is pre sently in jail.
The Ministry said it has several inputs showing links of the JKDFP with banned terrorist organisations.
“JKDFP and its mem bers have been involved in the violent terrorist activi ties with an intent to create a reign of terror in the country, thereby endan gering the security and pu blic order of the State, and its antinational activities also show disrespect and disregard to the constitu tional authority and sove reignty of the state, hence an immediate and prompt action is required against the organisation,” the noti fication said.
The Ministry said if the Hurriyat faction is not de clared an unlawful associa tion it would continue ad vocating the secession of J&K from India.