Omar Abdullah questions Centre's crackdown on Yasin Malik's JKLF, refers to move as election gimmick

Omar Abdullah has questioned the Centre's move to ban Yasin Malik-led Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) under anti-terror law after a systematic crackdown.

Taking to Twitter, Abdullah said, "For 4 1/2 years Yasin Malik isn’t a threat, Jamaat Islami isn’t a threat, Pakistan National Day is a function that must be attended. Now suddenly once an election is announced an immediate u-turn is executed."

The Central government has banned Yasin Malik-led Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) under anti-terror law after a systematic crackdown on the Hurriyat leader.

READ | Mehbooba Mufti bats for Yasin Malik, fearmongers over ban on his JKLF

The development comes on the eve of Pakistan National Day, when Pakistan has decided to invite separatist Hurriyat leaders from Jammu and Kashmir to the event, pertaining to which the Indian government officials decided to stay away from the event. 

The outfit has been banned for alleged promotion of secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. The organisation has been banned under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and its chief Yasin Malik is under arrest and at present lodged in Jammu's Kot Balwal jail.

This is the second organisation in Jammu and Kashmir which has been banned this month. Earlier, the Centre had banned the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir.

The Kashmiri separatist leader was taken into preventive custody by the police on February 22 as the cops apprehended him from his Maisuma residence in Srinagar. He was then detained in the Kothibagh police station in Srinagar.

In the crackdown, the CBI also filed a transfer application in Jammu and Kashmir High Court to reopen the 30-year-old case against terrorist turned separatist and Pakistan proxy Yasin Malik. 

The case relates to the killing of 4 unarmed IAF officers in Jan 1990 in Srinagar and also kidnapping of Rubiya Saeed, daughter of former Home Minister of India Mufti Mohd Saeed and Mehbooba Mufti's sister.

After Separatist Yasin Malik's Arrest, Centre Now Bans His JKLF Under Anti-terror Law On Eve Of Pak Day