J&K Police warn against any association with banned JKLF

Srinagar, May 9:   The Jammu and Kashmir Police issued a stern warning to the public, urging them to disassociate from the banned Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) led by Muhammad Yasin Malik.

The announcement was made on Thursday through public address system fitted on police vehicles in different city areas.

The police urged the people to “abandon any type of contact with banned organisation.” The police emphasised “that any individual found in contact or association with the banned JKLF would face severe consequences.”

This warning comes in the wake of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) banning the JKLF for five more years in March this year, citing its involvement in subversive and anti-national activities. Malik,is currently serving a life sentence at Tihar Jail in connection with various cases.

“The announcement by the J&K Police serves as a clear message to those still affiliated with the JKLF or its ideology. It is seen as a proactive measure to prevent any resurgence of secessionism and to ensure that law and order are maintained.”

The police have urged the public to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and report any suspicious activities or individuals associated with the banned organisation. They have also assured the public that “strict action will be taken against anyone found violating the ban or attempting to disrupt peace and harmony in Jammu and Kashmir.”

In March, the Government of India extended the ban on Yasin Malik's JKLF for another five years and declared it as an 'Unlawful Association'. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had stated that ‘JKLF (Yasin Malik faction) “continues to engage in activities that foment terror and secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir.”

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Shah had said, “The Modi government has declared the 'Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (Mohd. Yasin Malik faction)' as an 'Unlawful Association' for a further period of five years."

“The banned outfit continues to engage in activities that foment terror and secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir. Anyone found challenging the security, sovereignty and integrity of the nation will face harsh legal consequences."

The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief was awarded life imprisonment by a trial court on May 24, 2022, that held him guilty for various offences under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) earlier last year filed an appeal in the Delhi High Court seeking enhancement of the sentence from life term to death penalty, which is the maximum punishment for the offence. The life term was awarded for two offences - section 121 (waging war against the Government of India) of the IPC and section 17 (raising funds for terrorist act) of the UAPA.

The court had awarded Malik a 10-year jail term each under sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 121-A (conspiracy to wage war against the government of India) of the IPC and sections 15 (terrorism), 18 (conspiracy for terrorism) and 20 (being a member of terror organisation) of the UAPA.