The Yasin Malik-led Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) was banned by the Centre under anti-terror law on Friday, officials said. Its chief Yasin Malik is under arrest and at present lodged in Jammu’s Kot Balwal jail.
A former militant Malik ‘renounced’ violence in 1994 and adopted ‘peaceful’ methods to solve the Kashmir conflict. However, he continued to be a hardline separatist advocating the separation of Kashmir from India. He is the Chairman of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, which originally spearheaded armed militancy in the Kashmir Valley.
The outfit has been banned for alleged promotion of secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. The officials said that the organisation has been banned under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti came out in support of Maik and tweeted “What will a ban on his organisation achieve”.
This is the second organisation in Jammu and Kashmir which has been banned this month. Earlier, the Centre had banned the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir.