Srinagar, Dec 31: The Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday declared ‘Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH)’ Geelani faction as an ‘unlawful association’ for the next five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
In a notification, the MHA cited the powers granted by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), for this declaration.
Following the announcement, Union Home Minister Amit Shah shared on ‘X’, “The ‘Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, J&K (TeH) has been declared an ‘Unlawful Association’ under UAPA.
The organization is engaged in prohibited activities aimed at separating J&K from India and establishing Islamic rule. It is actively spreading anti-India propaganda and continuing terrorist activities to fuel secessionism in J&K.”
“Under PM @narendramodi Ji’s zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, any individual or organization involved in anti-India activities will be thwarted. Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Jammu and Kashmir (TeH), known for fomenting terrorism and anti-India propaganda to fuel secessionist activities in the region, falls under this purview,” the notification emphasized.
According to the MHA, TeH’ which was founded by Syed Ali Shah Geelani and was succeeded by Masarat Alam Bhat. The main objective of the organisation was to separate Jammu and Kashmir from India and establish Islamic rule in the Union Territory.
The notification stated, “TeH leaders and members have been raising funds, including from Pakistan and its proxies, for unlawful activities, supporting terrorism, and engaging in sustained stone-pelting on Security Forces in Jammu and Kashmir.”
It added that TeH members exhibit disrespect towards the constitutional authority and constitutional set-up of the country.
“The TeH members pay tributes to terrorists killed in encounters with security forces and support terrorist activities to create a reign of terror, endangering the security and public order of the state,” it continued.
The Ministry asserted that TeH and its members have been engaging in activities prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty, security, and communal harmony of the country.
“The TeH rejects democratic governance and its leadership calls for boycotting assembly elections. The Central government believes that unless immediate action is taken to curb TeH’s unlawful activities, it will persist in advocating the secession of Jammu and Kashmir, engaging in anti-national activities detrimental to the country’s territorial integrity, security, and sovereignty, and propagating false narratives to disrupt public order,” the MHA explained.
Considering these concerns, the Central government firmly declared Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Jammu and Kashmir (TeH), as an ‘unlawful association’ with immediate effect.
The ban comes days after the Union Government designated the Muslim League Jammu Kashmir (Masarat Alam faction), or MLK-MA, as an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities Prevention law.
It is pertinent to mention that this year, so far five organizations have been banned under the anti-terror law UAPA, and six individuals have been declared terrorists by the Ministry.
