SRINAGAR: The home department of the Union territory of J&K has given its nod to launch prosecution against Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik and Dukhtaran-e-Milat (DeM) chief Asiya Andrabi under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in two separate cases dating back to 2010 and 2018, respectively. Though both JKLF and DeM are banned outfits, government permission is mandatory for the prosecution of any accused under UAPA .

While terrorist-turned-separatist leader Malik, currently lodged in Tihar jail , is undergoing trial in the killing of four IAF jawans in 1990, Andrabi is notorious for her involvement in separatist movement with alleged close links with Pakistan. She too is lodged in Tihar jail. Both have now been booked in fresh cases.

The authorities have booked Malik in a case pertaining to 2010 for raising anti-national slogans at Sadder Koot Bala of Sumbal area of Bandipora in north Kashmir.

"During the course of investigation, it was revealed that the accused has raised anti-national and pro-freedom slogans at main chowk Sadder Koot Bala in front of people who were coming out of a masjid after offering Friday prayers, thereby causing hatred/threat in the minds and hearts of people against the integrity and sovereignty of the country," the home department notification of December 6 reads.

In another notification, the government has accorded sanction for prosecution of Andrabi and her close associates Nahida Nasreen and Fahmeeda Sofi for propagating and advocating the boycott of urban local body and panchayat polls in 2018. An FIR was registered against them in Soura police station under UAPA for advocating election boycott.

