New Delhi: The Central Government has imposed a five-year ban on the Awami Action Committee (AAC), led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and the Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM), headed by Masroor Abbas Ansari, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.
In separate notifications, the Union Home Ministry cited threats to India’s sovereignty, integrity, and security as grounds for the ban. The government accused AAC members of supporting terrorism, propagating anti-India narratives, and mobilizing funds for separatist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. The group has also been accused of inciting violence, promoting disaffection, and encouraging armed resistance.
Multiple criminal cases have been registered against AAC and its leaders, including charges of sedition, unlawful assembly, and incitement of violence. Several police stations in Srinagar, including Nowhatta, Safakadal, and Kothi Bagh, have recorded cases against Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other AAC members for allegedly delivering anti-government speeches, promoting election boycotts, and instigating protests. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also filed a chargesheet against AAC spokesperson Aftab Ahmad Shah and others for their alleged involvement in anti-national activities.
Similarly, the government accused JKIM members of supporting terrorism, engaging in anti-India propaganda, and mobilizing funds to promote separatist and secessionist agendas. The Home Ministry stated that if JKIM’s activities are not curtailed, it will continue to incite public unrest, dispute Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to India, and disrupt law and order.
Invoking Section 3 of UAPA, the government has enforced the ban with immediate effect, stating that it is essential to curb activities that pose a threat to national security. This action is part of a broader crackdown on groups accused of fostering separatism and militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.
