Srinagar: In Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian government has imposed a five-year ban on the Awami Action Committee (AAC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Ittihad-ul-Muslimeen (JKIM), citing the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

According to Kashmir Media Service, the decision was announced by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, led by Amit Shah, through two separate notifications. The government alleges that these organizations support the demand for self-determination and independence from India.

The notifications claim that the AAC would continue to advocate for Kashmir’s independence, propagate anti-India sentiments, and intensify the freedom struggle if not banned. The ministry also noted that several cases have been filed against AAC and its leaders, including charges of sedition and incitement to violence. Specific police stations in Srinagar have registered cases against senior APHC leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other AAC members for allegedly making anti-India speeches and promoting election boycotts.

The Indian government has similarly banned JKIM, led by Masroor Abbas Ansari, on charges of demanding self-determination.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a senior APHC leader and chairman of AAC, condemned the ban, stating that the AAC has historically advocated for the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir through non-violent and democratic methods. He criticized the move as part of a broader policy of intimidation since August 2019.

APHC spokesperson Abdul Rashid Minhas termed the ban as state terrorism and a deliberate attempt by the Indian government to suppress the political voices of Kashmiris. He urged the international community, including the United Nations, to intervene in resolving the Kashmir issue in line with UN resolutions.