UAPA Tribunal upholds ban against Shabir Shah-led JKDFP

Srinagar, April 13: A tribunal has upheld the decision of the Union government to declare the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP), founded by Shabir Ahmad Shah, an ‘unlawful association’ under the anti-terror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), a media report said.

The UAPA tribunal’s order quoted a chargesheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2019 which stated that, in 2016, the “Pakistan Government” had sent ₹1.1 crore to Shah to be distributed among the people who attacked security forces with stones after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter, reported The Hindu.

The NIA, as per the report, said that the money sent from Pakistan clearly showed that Shah, along with others, “is at the centre of the conspiracy to promote lawlessness and violence in Jammu and Kashmir orchestrated with an intention to secure secession of J&K from the Union of India.”

Shah has been in jail since July 2017 when he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a case which the agency had registered in 2007.

The tribunal order mentions 40 cases registered against Shah. While 37 cases were registered by the J&K Police, a case each is being investigated by the NIA, the ED, and the Delhi Police.