New Delhi, March 12 – The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has declared the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Action Committee (AAC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM) as “unlawful associations” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for the next five years, citing threats to national security.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the decision on Tuesday, stating that both organizations were found inciting unrest and posing a “threat to the unity and integrity” of India.
“These organizations were found inciting people to cause law and order situations, posing a threat to the unity and integrity of Bharat. Anyone found involved in activities against the nation’s peace, order, and sovereignty is bound to face the crushing blow of the Modi government,” Shah said in a post on X.
According to official notifications from the MHA, the AAC, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and the JKIM, headed by Masroor Abbas Ansari, have been involved in activities that undermine India’s sovereignty, integrity, and security.
The government accused AAC members of supporting terrorism, propagating anti-India narratives, and mobilizing funds for separatist movements in Jammu and Kashmir. The notification cited instances of inciting violence, promoting disaffection against the state, and encouraging armed resistance.
The ministry also listed criminal cases against AAC and its leaders, including charges of sedition, unlawful assembly, and incitement of violence. The government referenced cases registered in various police stations in Srinagar, including Nowhatta, Safakadal, and Kothi Bagh, against Umar Farooq and other AAC members for making anti-government speeches, advocating election boycotts, and instigating protests.
Additionally, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against AAC spokesperson Aftab Ahmad Shah and others for alleged involvement in anti-national activities.
“If not curbed, AAC will continue to support militancy, disrupt public order, and fuel separatist movements in Jammu and Kashmir,” the MHA stated, emphasizing the necessity of the ban.
Similarly, the government accused JKIM members of supporting terrorism, engaging in anti-India propaganda, and raising funds to promote separatist and secessionist agendas. The notification stated that the organization has been inciting public unrest, advocating violence, and working against India’s constitutional framework.
“If JKIM’s activities are not curtailed, it will continue promoting anti-national sentiments, disputing Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to India, and disrupting public order,” the government asserted.
The five-year ban on both organizations has been imposed under Section 3 of the UAPA and is effective immediately.
This move is part of a broader crackdown on groups accused of fostering separatism and militancy in Jammu and Kashmir. The government has taken similar actions in recent years against organizations and individuals involved in what it describes as anti-national activities in the region.
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