Srinagar, Jan 11: The Central government has granted powers under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) to States and Union Territories in relation to the ban on the Jammu and Kashmir-based separatist organisation Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH).
According to an official notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), State governments and Union Territory administrations can now utilize the anti-terror law in cases related to the TeH ban.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 42 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the Central Government hereby directs that all powers exercisable by it under section 7 and section 8 of the said Act shall also be exercised by the State Governments and the Union Territory Administration in relation to the above said unlawful association,” reads the MHA notification, a copy of which lies with Rising Kashmir.
Section 7 of the UAPA pertains to the power to prohibit the use of funds of an unlawful association, and Section 8 is related to the power to notify places used for the purpose of an unlawful association.
Earlier today, MHA issued directives to the Jammu and Kashmir administration for seizure of assets, freezing of bank accounts, and financial holdings associated with the banned pro-Pakistan separatist entities Tehreek-e-Hurriyat and Muslim League Jammu Kashmir, led by separatist Masarat Alam.
In identical notifications, copies of which lie with Rising Kashmir, the Union Home Ministry invoked Section 42 of the UAPA which empowers the central government to direct state governments and Union Territory administrations to exercise powers under Section 7 and Section 8 of the Act related to prohibiting the use of funds and notifying places used for the purpose of an unlawful association.
The government, while banning Tehreek-e-Hurriyat for five years, cited its involvement in fomenting terrorism and spreading anti-India propaganda in the Union Territory.
The outfit’s objective was identified as seeking to separate Jammu and Kashmir from India and establish Islamic rule in the region, it added.
Masarat Alam Bhat’s organisation, Muslim League Jammu Kashmir, was also designated a banned entity for its participation in anti-national and secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
The government asserted that the outfit and its members were engaged in anti-national activities, supporting terrorist actions in the region.
Pertinent to mention, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, founded by the late separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, and the Muslim League Jammu Kashmir (Masarat Alam faction) were declared unlawful outfits on December 31, 2023, and December 27, 2023, respectively, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
