Mufti Condemns Invocation of Enemy Agents Ordinance in Kashmir, Calls it a Breach of Justice
GG News Bureau
Srinagar, 1st July. Former CM and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti has strongly condemned the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s decision to invoke the Enemy Agents Ordinance (EAO) against individuals suspected of supporting militancy, calling it deeply disturbing.
Mufti’s remarks follow the recent move by the police to use this archaic law, originally from the era of Dogra Maharajas, against its own citizens. She stated, “The Jammu and Kashmir Police’s decision to invoke the draconian Enemy Agents Ordinance from the Maharaja’s era against its own citizens on mere suspicion of abetting and aiding militants is not only deeply concerning, but a major breach of justice.”
Earlier this week, Jammu and Kashmir DGP RR Swain announced that individuals found aiding militants in J&K would face trial under the stringent provisions of the Enemy Agents Ordinance, 2005. This law imposes severe penalties including life imprisonment, death sentence, or up to 10 years of imprisonment, surpassing the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
“The approach of treating militants should not be part of the investigative process. The time has come for the gunmen to be eliminated. Those who assist them will be considered as enemy agents,” said the DGP.
The EAO refers to “terrorist associates” and those who arrive to kill “our unarmed and innocent people and those who assist them”, as stated by the DGP. The EAO was promulgated by the Maharaja following the tribal raid in 1947 and later adopted by the J&K Government. After the revocation of Article 370, the ordinance was implemented by the Central Government under the J&K Reorganization Act.
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