Sudhir Kumar / New Delhi
The government today banned two terror outfits Awami Action Committee AAC and Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen JKIM. Both groups have been declared as unlawful association by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Notifications issued by the Ministry said AAC and JKIM are indulging in unlawful activities which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country. It said members of the groups have been involved in supporting terrorist activities and anti-India propaganda for fuelling secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a social media post, Home Minister Amit Shah stated that these groups were involved in promoting and supporting the secession of Jammu and Kashmir from India by engaging in anti-national and subversive activities. He added that anyone found participating in activities that threaten the nation’s peace, order, and sovereignty would face the full force of the Modi government’s actions.
According to an official notification, the AAC, led by Umar Farooq, has been involved in supporting terrorist activities and spreading anti-India propaganda to fuel separatism in Jammu and Kashmir. The ministry said that the AAC has been mobilizing funds to support secessionist, separatist, and terrorist operations in the region.
The government further highlighted that the AAC is displaying blatant disregard for India’s constitutional authority by promoting unrest, encouraging armed insurgency, and spreading hatred against the government.
The notification cited multiple cases registered against AAC leaders, including Umar Farooq and other members, for their involvement in anti-national speeches, incitement of violence, and incidents of stone-pelting.
It also referenced a 2018 charge sheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against AAC spokesperson Aftab Ahmad Shah and 11 others, of conspiring against the state. Additionally, several police cases dating back to 2008 were mentioned, which included allegations of inflammatory speeches, calls for election boycotts, and efforts to instigate public disorder.
The government warned that if AAC’s activities were left unchecked, the group could continue to promote separatist propaganda, incite violence, and support militancy in the region. The notification underscored that such actions posed a serious threat to national security and public order.
Exercising its powers under Section 3(1) of the UAPA, 1967, the MHA formally declared AAC an unlawful organization. The ban will remain in force for five years from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette unless overturned by legal intervention.