Context: 

The government has extended the ban on a group called ‘Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI)’ for five more years under a law called the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. 

• SIMI was banned in 2001 initially, Since then, the outlawing of SIMI has been consistently renewed at regular intervals.

About SIMI (Students Islamic Movement of India)

• It’s a group with Islamic fundamentalist beliefs.
• The SIMI group was established in 1977, in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh
• It was initially started as the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH).

Reasons for Declaring SIMI As An ‘Unlawful Association’

• SIMI has been involved in activities that promote terrorism, disrupt peace, and threaten the sovereignty, security, and integrity of the country.

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967

• The UAPA is an anti-terrorism law first passed in 1967, aimed at protecting the sovereignty and integrity of a nation by preventing activities that threaten it. 
• Objective: It provides more effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of individuals and associations and dealing with terrorist activities and other connected matters.
• Designation as a  terrorist organisation: 
  • Commits or participates in acts of terrorism,
  • Promotes terrorism
  • Prepares for terrorism
  • Is otherwise involved in terrorism.
  • The Bill also empowers the government to designate individuals as terrorists on the same grounds. 
• Punishments: The highest punishment is the death penalty and life imprisonment.
• Coverage: Offense and offender can be both Indian and foreign nationals. The offence committed on foreign land can also attract UAPA provisions.
• Investigation: To be conducted by officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent or Assistant Commissioner of Police or above. NIA officers of the rank of Inspector or above are empowered to investigate cases under UAPA (National Investigation Agency functions as the Central Counter-Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency in India).
• Seizure of property: Prior approval of the Director General of Police/NIA needs to be taken by the investigating officer to seize properties connected with terrorism.

News Source: News on Air

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