
On Thursday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) granted authority to the Jammu and Kashmir administration to confiscate assets and freeze bank accounts associated with Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) and Muslim League. Both organizations were proscribed by the MHA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in December 2023.
The MHA issued two separate notifications, endowing the J&K government with the power to seize assets and freeze financial accounts of these banned entities. The Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir, founded by the late Syed Ali Shah Geelani, was designated as an Unlawful Association under Section 3(1) of the UAPA on December 31, 2023. Likewise, on December 27, 2023, the MHA banned the Muslim League, led by Masarat Alam, utilizing the same legislative instrument.
Through these notifications, the MHA invoked Section 42 of the UAPA, directing state governments and Union Territory administrations to exercise the powers under Section 7 and Section 8 of the Act concerning the aforementioned unlawful associations. Section 7 prohibits the use of funds by such associations, while Section 8 empowers authorities to designate places used for their activities.
Amit Shah, the Union Minister for Home and Cooperation, declared Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir an Unlawful Association, emphasizing its involvement in activities aimed at separating Jammu and Kashmir from India and establishing Islamic rule. Shah underscored the group’s engagement in anti-India propaganda and terrorism to foster secessionism in the region.
Echoing a similar sentiment, the Home Minister declared the ‘Muslim League Jammu Kashmir (Masarat Alam faction)’ as an Unlawful Association, accusing its members of participating in anti-national and secessionist activities in J&K. Shah asserted that the organization supported terrorist activities and incited people to establish Islamic rule in the region.
In both cases, Shah highlighted the zero-tolerance policy against terrorism under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, vowing swift action against any individual or organization involved in anti-India activities. He emphasized that these organizations posed a threat to the sovereignty, security, and integrity of India, with numerous criminal cases registered against them under various legal provisions.