Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, once headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, banned by Centre

New Delhi: The Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH), a separatist party founded by the late Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Ashraf Sehrai in 2004, was banned by the Union government on Sunday on charges of "fomenting" terrorism, engaging in anti-India propaganda, "fueling" secessionist activities, and attempting to establish "Islamic Rule in Jammu and Kashmir," among other grounds.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notified the ban for five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, with Home Minister Amit Shah stating that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, any individual or organization found involved in anti-India activities will be thwarted forthwith."

"The Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Jammu and Kashmir(TeH) has been declared an 'Unlawful Association' under UAPA. The outfit is involved in forbidden activities to separate Jammu and Kashmir from India and establish Islamic rule. The group is found spreading anti-India propaganda and continuing terror activities to fuel secessionism in J&K," Shah wrote in a post on X.

On December 27, the government imposed a similar ban on the Masarat Alam faction of the 'Muslim League Jammu Kashmir' (MLJK-MA) for its "anti-national and secessionist activities" in Jammu and Kashmir, "by supporting terrorist activities and inciting people to establish Islamic rule in the valley."

According to an MHA notification in the official gazette, the TeH's objective is to separate Jammu and Kashmir from India and "establish Islamic rule". It is known for its involvement in "fomenting terrorism," "anti-India propaganda", and "fueling" secessionist activities, the notification stated.

It said the leaders and members of the TeH have been involved in raising funds through various sources, including Pakistan and its proxy organisations for perpetrating unlawful activities, including sustained stone-pelting on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.

The notification highlighted that TeH members pay tributes to terrorists killed in encounters, and the group has been involved in supporting terrorist activities with the intent "to create a reign of terror in the country, thereby endangering the security and public order."

"...The TeH and its leaders and members, have been indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty, security and communal harmony of the country...the TeH never believed in a democratic system of governance and TeH leadership gave repeated calls to boycott assembly elections on multiple occasions," the notification read.

It stated that if there is no immediate curb or control of the "unlawful activities of the outfit," TeH will use this opportunity to "continue advocating the secession of Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India while disputing its accession to the Union of India."

The TeH will also "continue propagating a false narrative and anti-national sentiments among the people of Jammu and Kashmir with the intention to cause disaffection against India and disrupt public order," the notification added.