Jammu: The Union Home Ministry today banned the People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), a “proxy outfit” of the Jaish-e-Mohammed militant outfit , for its involvement in militant acts in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere.
The Union Home Ministry also designated Arbaz Ahmad Mir, a Lashkar-e-Toiba member, as an individual terrorist under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
In a notification, the Union Home Ministry said the PAFF has been regularly issuing threats to security forces, political leaders and civilians working in Jammu and Kashmir from other States.
The PAFF, along with other organisations, is involved in pro-actively conspiring both physically and in social media to undertake violent militant acts in Jammu and Kashmir and major cities in India, it said.
Along with other organisations, PAFF is indulging in the radicalisation of impressionable youth for recruitment and training in handling guns, ammunition and explosives. The group has also been involved in militancy and it has committed and participated in various subversive acts in India, the Home Ministry said.
Therefore, exercising the powers conferred by clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 35 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the Central government declared PAFF a banned organisation, the Ministry said. Earlier, the MHA banned TRF and declared it as a militant organization.
In a separate notification, the Union Home Ministry said it has designated Arbaz Ahmad Mir, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir but is presently based in Pakistan and allegedly working for the Lashkar-e-Toiba, as an individual terrorist.
It said Mir has been involved in target killings and has emerged as the main conspirator in the killing of a woman teacher, Rajni Bala, in Kulgam district of J&K a few months ago.
Mir has been involved in coordinating militancy in the Kashmir valley and supporting militants by transporting illegal arms or ammunition or explosives from across the border, the Ministry said.
The Central Government believes that Mir has been involved in militancy and therefore exercising the powers conferred by clause (a) of sub-section 1) of section 35 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 designated him as an individual militant, the notification said.

KR Desk