Crackdown on Kashmiri Political and Religious Leadership – AAC and JKIM Banned for Five Years

Srinagar: In a move aimed at further weakening pro-Kashmir leadership in Kashmir, the Indian government has banned the Awami Action Committee (AAC) and Jammu & Kashmir Ittihad-ul-Muslimeen (JKIM) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) 1967 for a period of five years.

The Awami Action Committee, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and JKIM, headed by Masroor Abbas Ansari, have been accused of engaging in activities that allegedly threaten India’s sovereignty, integrity, and security. The Indian Home Ministry claims that these organizations have supported separatist movements, promoted anti-India sentiments, and facilitated funding for militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

Criminal Charges Against Awami Action Committee and Its Leadership

According to the Home Ministry’s notification, several criminal cases have been registered against AAC leaders, including sedition, unlawful assembly, and incitement to violence. Police records indicate that Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other AAC members have faced multiple FIRs in Srinagar’s Nowhatta, Safa Kadal, and Kothi Bagh police stations for their alleged anti-India speeches, election boycott calls, and protests.

Additionally, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also filed a charge sheet against AAC spokesperson Aftab Ahmad Shah and other individuals for their alleged involvement in anti-state activities. The government argues that if AAC were not banned, it would continue to promote militancy, disrupt public order, and fuel separatist movements in the region.

JKIM Accused of Anti-State Activities

Similarly, the Jammu & Kashmir Ittihad-ul-Muslimeen (JKIM) has been accused of facilitating terrorism, spreading anti-India propaganda, and collecting funds for separatist agendas. The Home Ministry states that the organization has actively worked to instigate violence, create unrest, and challenge India’s constitutional authority over Jammu & Kashmir.

The government has justified the ban under Section 3 of UAPA, citing national security threats. Officials claim that without intervention, JKIM would have continued to provoke anti-state sentiments, question Jammu & Kashmir’s integration with India, and disrupt peace in the region.

Mirwaiz Condemns the Ban Calls it Suppression of Kashmiri Voice

Following the announcement of the ban, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the leader of the Awami Action Committee (AAC), strongly condemned the move, calling it an attempt to intimidate and disempower the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement on social media, he wrote:

“Strongly condemn the ban on Awami Action Committee and declaring it an ‘Unlawful Association.’ Formed by Shaheed-e-Millat at the peak of the Holy Relic (Moi Muqaddas) agitation in 1964, it has unwaveringly stood by the people of J&K, advocating their aspirations and rights through completely non-violent and democratic methods and calling for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir conflict through dialogue and deliberation, for which its members suffered jails, incarceration, and even martyrdom. This move seems part of the continuation of the policy of intimidation and disempowerment that is being followed vis-à-vis J&K since August 2019. The voice of truth may be suppressed through force, but will not be silenced.”

His remarks highlight the broader trend of political repression in Kashmir post-August 2019, where key political and religious figures have faced arrests, house detentions, and organizational bans aimed at silencing pro-Kashmir voices.

Kashmir Under Systematic Suppression

The ban on AAC and JKIM is part of a larger crackdown on political, religious, and separatist organizations in Indian-administered Kashmir, reflecting a continued effort to silence voices that challenge New Delhi’s control over the region. Since the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019, India has intensified its military presence, political suppression, and legal crackdowns against pro-Kashmir and separatist groups.

Human rights activists argue that such bans are an extension of Kashmir’s colonial-style occupation, where political expression, dissent, and religious leadership are systematically suppressed. By targeting groups like AAC and JKIM, India aims to eliminate any remaining organized resistance and further curtail Kashmiri self-determination movements.

The ban raises serious concerns over the eroding political space and shrinking civil liberties in Kashmir. With most pro-freedom and religious groups either dismantled or silenced, the latest move indicates that New Delhi seeks to impose complete political submission on the region. However, despite these actions, Kashmir’s struggle for identity, autonomy, and freedom remains deeply rooted in its historical and political consciousness.

This development signals yet another aggressive step in India’s effort to consolidate its control over Kashmir, while Kashmiris continue to resist, against all odds, in their pursuit of political and territorial rights.