The Centre on Monday constituted a tribunal, headed by a judge of the Delhi High Court, for adjudicating if there is sufficient ground for declaring the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP), headed by jailed separatist Shabir Ahmad Shah, as an unlawful organisation.

The Union Home Ministry on October 5 had declared JKDFP a banned group under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 for five years for its “anti-India” and “pro-Pakistan” activities.  In a notification, the home ministry said, “The central government hereby constitutes the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal consisting of Justice Sachin Datta, Judge, High Court of Delhi, for the purpose of adjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) as an unlawful association,” a home ministry notification said. 

Founded in 1998 by Shah, the JKDFP was a constituent of the separatist amalgam Hurriyat Conference. 

After the division of the Hurriyat Conference in 2003, the JKDFP became a part of the hardline faction headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani then.  Shah is currently lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 25, 2017, in a 2005 money laundering case. 

He has also been chargesheeted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a terror-funding case.  In November last year, the ED had attached his Srinagar house in connection with its money laundering probe linked to a case of fuelling terror activities in the Union territory.

While declaring JKDFP a banned organisation, the home ministry had said Shah called Kashmir a “dispute” and ruled out any settlement within the framework of the Constitution of India and the members of his party have been at the forefront of secessionist activities with an intention to create a separate Islamic state.

The Municipal Administration in Odisha on Monday put all Urban Local Bodies (ULB) on alert in view of the formation of cyclonic storm ‘Hamoon’ in the Bay of Bengal.

Director Municipal Administration Sangramjit Nayak, in an official statement, issued a directive to all ULB Chiefs, sensitising them about the impending danger due to the formation of cyclonic storm Hamoon in the Bay of Bengal, which will culminate in huge rainfall, wind and inclement weather.

The directive, while stating that facing this is a challenge and requires teamwork, asked ULB chiefs to recall their colleagues if they had been granted leave.

“You are all aware that facing this is a challenge and it needs teamwork. You have to recall your colleagues if at all they have been granted leave. Don’t hesitate to do that. The rain at Paradeep Chandabali, Balasore, indicates that some impact will be there,” Mr Nayak said.

The ULB Chiefs have been asked to organise their human resources and machinery to tackle possible inundation of rainwater in low-lying areas due to possible heavy rainfall.

In the directive, the ULB Chiefs have been asked to remain in close contact with the district administration.

He also asked to notify the Control room immediately and give the number to the Department

“Keep a close relationship with the District Administration and from the side of the department, do not hesitate to contact Prabhat Mohapatra, Additional Secretary and Santosh Das JS,” he said, adding that with time, further instructions will follow.

Palestinian militant group Hamas said on Monday that two more hostages seized to the Gaza Strip during the October 7 attacks had been freed.

The Islamist group’s military wing said in a statement the two women had been freed for “compelling humanitarian” reasons following mediation by Qatar and Egypt. There was no immediate confirmation by Israeli authorities.

Two American women were freed on Friday, out of the 222 hostages Israel has confirmed are being held in Gaza.