Srinagar, Mar 24: A complete shutdown was Sunday observed across Kashmir against the Government of India ban on Yasin Malik led Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).
The ban comes days after state’s largest socio-religious party Jamaat-e-Islami was banned and its leadership arrested.
Reports said all the shops and business establishments remained shut across Kashmir including the summer capital Srinagar and passenger traffic was also minimal on the roads.
Hurriyat (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq himself summoned by National Investigative Agency (NIA) to Delhi for questions in connection with a funding case was placed under house detention to prevent him from taking any protest rally. Train services from Banihal to Baramulla also remained suspended.
The shutdown call was issued by Joint Hurriyat Leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik against the ban on JKLF.
Joint Hurriyat had said the government of India’s decision of banning the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front for five years is highly “authoritarian, autocratic and pure political vendetta.”
The central government banned the JKLF on Friday labeling it an “unlawful party”.
Malik has also been booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and lodged in a jail in Jammu division of the state.
The government formally banned Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front vide notification No. 1403 (E) dated March 22, 2019.
As per the notification issued by the union Home Ministry, the Central Government is of the opinion that the said organization is involved in “anti-national and subversive activities and is in close touch with militant outfits and is supporting extremism in the state.”
The notification further says the party propagates “anti-national and separatist sentiments and escalates secessionist moments.”
As such, the notification reads, the origination stands banned as per the provisions of sub-sections (1) and (3) of section 3 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 for a period of five years.
