In a triumphant move, the vigilant Jammu and Kashmir Police in Srinagar have apprehended 43 individuals known for their past affiliations with terrorist activities and separatist movements. These included progeny of two seasoned leaders of the Hurriyat, who were reportedly assembled under the veiled intent of reviving the separatist conglomerate and the banned Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). This is an enormous achievement that showcases the ceaseless diligence of our heroic police force.

Informed insiders reveal that a previous militant of the JKLF, Mohammad Yasin Bhat, had called upon over 40 former militants and separatists for a gathering and a meal at a hotel situated in the Civil Lines area of Srinagar. Amidst this suspicious gathering, the tenacious J&K Police, acting with speed and precision, descended upon the hotel, apprehending all present and escorting them to the nearby Kothibagh Police Station for further inquiries.

High-ranking officials confirmed that all 43 individuals were taken into custody following credible intelligence that suggested their clandestine intent to reactivate the now-defunct Hurriyat Conference and the banned JKLF. A rigorous line of questioning was underway well into the evening of that day.

By 11:00 pm on Sunday, the Srinagar District Police announced via Twitter: “Acting on reliable information about a covert meeting involving former JKLF members and earlier separatists at a hotel in Srinagar, they were escorted to Kothibagh PS for verification. Preliminary investigations suggest they were scheming to resurrect JKLF & Hurriyat”.

The individuals chosen for in-depth questioning included prominent separatist activist Firdaus Ahmad Shah and Mohammad Yasin Bhat, once a leading figure in the JKLF. Among the detainees were also the sons of two former Hurriyat chairmen: Masroor Abbas Ansari, son of the late cleric Maulvi Abbas Ansari, and Jehangir Ahmad Bhat, offspring of Prof. Abdul Gani Bhat.

Interestingly, although the Hurriyat Conference - established in 1993 with blatant backing from Pakistan - has never been prohibited by Indian authorities, its major component, the JKLF, has been declared illegal since February 2019. The JKLF was conceived by Maqbool Bhat and Amanullah Khan in the 1960s, with both guerrilla and political arms, complemented by legal and diplomatic branches.

Yasin Malik, the JKLF’s chairman and previous “chief commander”, is currently entangled in a series of grave charges related to murder and terror, including the abduction of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of the former Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, and the murder of four Indian Air Force personnel during 1989-90. Court proceedings for these high-profile cases are ongoing in a TADA Court in Jammu.

In a case from 2017 pertaining to terror funding and activities, Malik admitted guilt to all charges levelled against him and received multiple sentences, including life imprisonment.

Authorities have confirmed that Sunday's successful operation by the J&K Police was prompted by the receipt of “trustworthy intelligence” about the secretive meeting and its potential criminal objectives. The assembled separatists were located at a hotel very close to the Kothibagh Police Station and the office of the Superintendent of Police (City) East.

The successful police operation reflects the unyielding commitment of our law enforcement agencies to maintain peace and security. The brave and steadfast J&K police force deserves our highest admiration and appreciation for their tireless efforts and resolute actions.