J&K Administration Gives Nod To Prosecute Kashmiri Separatists Yasin Malik, Asiya Andrabi Under UAPA

The home department of the union territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir gave its approval to prosecute against J&K Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik and Dukhtaran-e-Milat (DeM) head Asiya Andrabi under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Terrorist-turned-separatist Malik will face prosecution in a case pertaining to 2010 for raising anti-national slogans at Sadder Koot Bala of Sumbal area of Bandipora in north Kashmir, the UT administration accorded sanction in a notification.

"During the course of investigation, it was revealed that the accused has raised anti-national and pro-freedom slogans at main chowk Sadder Koot Bala in front of people who were coming out of a masjid after offering Friday prayers, thereby causing hatred/threat in the minds and hearts of people against the integrity and sovereignty of the country," the home department notification of 6 December reads.

Andrabi and her close aides Nahida Nasreen and Fahmeeda Sofi for propagating and advocating the boycott of urban local body and panchayat polls in 2018, as per another notification by the J&K administration.

Both the leaders are currently lodged in Delhi’s Tihar jail in different cases. While Malik is currently facing trial for killing of four IAF personnel in 1990, Andrabi is in jailfor her role in separatist movement with alleged links with Pakistan.

Despite both JKLF and DeM being banned outfits, it is mandatory to seek approval from the state administration to prosecute an accused under UAPA.