The Yasin Malik-led Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) was banned on March 22 for a series of violent acts and being at the forefront of separatist activities in the militancy-hit state since 1988, said Union home secretary Rajiv Gauba.

Listing out its subversive and violent activities, Gauba said the JKLF spearheaded the separatist ideology in Kashmir Valley and the action was taken following the “zero tolerance” policy of the Central government against terrorism.

“Murders of Kashmiri Pandits by JKLF in 1989 triggered their exodus from the Valley. Malik was the mastermind behind the purging of Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir Valley and is responsible for their genocide. The JKLF has many serious cases registered against it. This organisation is responsible for the murder of four Indian Air Force personnel and kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of the then Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in the V.P. Singh government,” he said after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security took the decision to ban the separatist group.

This is the second outfit in J&K that has been banned this month. Earlier, the Centre had banned the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu & Kashmir. The government also withdrew security of several separatist leaders after a review recently.

Gauba said the Central government has followed the policy of “zero tolerance” against terrorism and has acted strongly against terrorists and the security forces have been given free hand to deal with terrorism.

“The Central government, in its pursuit of strong action against terrorism, has today declared JKLF (Yasin faction) as an unlawful association under the provisions of Section 3(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967,” he said.

Gauba said the Central government is committed to relentlessly pursuing the policy of curbing the activities of secessionist organisations that are a threat to the unity and integrity of the country and the NIA and the Enforcement Directorate are taking strong action against these organisations.

“The JKLF is also responsible for illegal funnelling of funds for fomenting terrorism. The JKLF is actively involved in raising of funds and its distribution to Hurriyat cadres and stone-pelters to fuel unrest in Kashmir Valley as well as for subversive activities. Activities of the JKLF pose a serious threat to the security of the country and are prejudicial to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of India. It has been actively and continuously encouraging feelings of enmity and hatred against the lawfully established government as well as armed rebellion,” he said.

Malik is at present lodged at Kot Balwal jail in Jammu and is likely to face trial in the kidnapping case of Rubaiya Sayeed and gunning down of four IAF personnel.

The JKLF was founded by Pakistani national Amanullah Khan in Birmingham, UK, and came into prominence in 1971 when its member hijacked an Indian Airlines plane flying from Srinagar to Jammu. A total of 37 FIRs have been registered by the J&K Police against JKLF and two cases, including that of murder of IAF personnel, were registered by the CBI.

The NIA has also registered a case against the JKLF, which is under investigation.

The JKLF was also involved in the kidnapping and killing of Ravindra Mhatre, an Indian diplomat posted the UK, in 1984.