New Delhi: The government has banned the Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force (JKGF). The ban has been imposed under stringent provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act. The JKGF was formed from the cadres of terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
In a separate notification, the Union Home Ministry has declared Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, a resident of Punjab, as a terrorist.
According to the notification issued by the ministry, the JKGF was involved in infiltration attempts, smuggling of drugs and weapons, terrorist attacks in the Union Territory and the organization was a major challenge to the security forces.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said the JKGF had accommodated members from Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen, Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami and other organisations in its organisation.
Sandhu alias Rinda, who hails from Punjab and is currently based in Lahore, is associated with Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).
Rinda has been declared a terrorist by the ministry. Rinda is one of the main conspirators of the rocket attack on the Intelligence Headquarters of Punjab Police in Mohali in 2021. Interpol has already issued a Red Corner Notice against him.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said the JKGF has been using various social media platforms to incite the people of Jammu and Kashmir to join terrorist organisations against India. “The terrorist organisation is prejudicial to the sovereignty and national security of the country and is involved in a number of terrorist activities,” it said.
According to the notification, in exercise of the powers conferred under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the JKGF has been declared a terrorist organisation. The ban will apply to JKGF and all institutions associated with it. The JKGF is the 43rd group to be declared illegal under the anti-terrorism law.