Mian Abdul Qayoom 's property attached under UAPA in Srinagar

Jammu and Kashmir Police have attached the residential house and adjoining land of senior lawyer and former president of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, Mian Abdul Qayoom, in Srinagar under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The attachment, ordered by Director General of Police (DGP) RR Swain, follows an investigation into a 2009 case linked to an “anti-India seminar” allegedly organised in Srinagar. According to the police, the house is located in Barzulla, an uptown area of Srinagar, and the land adjoining the building has also been seized as part of the same action.

A senior officer of the Srinagar Police confirmed that the property was declared “proceeds of terrorism” under Section 25 of the UAPA, which empowers the state to attach movable or immovable assets believed to be linked to terrorist financing or support activities. The police statement said the order was issued “after the competent authority accorded sanction” and that the decision was part of a “continuing investigation into past instances of support for terrorism and secessionist activity.”

Case traces back to 2009 seminar

The property attachment stems from an FIR registered in 2009 when a seminar titled “Resolution of the Kashmir Dispute — Road to Peace in South Asia” was held in Srinagar. According to investigators, the event was attended by several lawyers and activists, including figures associated with separatist groups such as the Hurriyat Conference.

The police maintain that the seminar had turned into a “platform for anti-national rhetoric” and that participants allegedly “advocated secessionist ideology.” Based on this claim, the case was initially registered at the Kothi Bagh Police Station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the UAPA.

Mian Qayoom, who was then serving as president of the Kashmir Bar Association, was named as one of the accused in the case. Police records describe him as a long-time advocate for the Bar who was also known for his legal representation of detainees booked under public safety and anti-terror laws.

In recent years, the case was reopened as part of a broader review of old investigations linked to terrorism-related offences in Jammu and Kashmir. Police officials say fresh evidence, including written materials and witness testimonies, was examined to determine the role of key individuals in the 2009 seminar.

Police explanation, official reasoning

In a written statement issued on Tuesday, the Srinagar Police said, “The residential property belonging to Mian Abdul Qayoom at Barzulla has been attached following due process of law. The action is part of the investigation into a case registered in 2009 concerning unlawful activities and anti-national propaganda. The property has been identified as proceeds of terrorism.”

The statement added that the order was executed in the presence of magistrates and police personnel, with a notice affixed on the gate of the house. The land records have been updated to reflect the attachment, pending further proceedings before the competent authority.

No family member of Mr Qayoom or his legal representatives has publicly responded to the attachment order so far.

### Background of Mian Abdul Qayoom

Mian Abdul Qayoom, a senior advocate of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, has long been a prominent figure in the legal and political circles of the Valley. He served multiple terms as president of the Kashmir Bar Association, an organisation known for frequently taking positions critical of central policies in the region.

He was detained in August 2019, shortly after the abrogation of Article 370, under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and held for nearly a year. His detention order described him as an “influential advocate of secessionist ideology,” a charge his lawyers had denied. The Supreme Court of India later ordered his release after nearly eleven months of incarceration.

Mr Qayoom has represented numerous political detainees over the years and has been one of the most visible legal figures in cases involving the UAPA and PSA.

Legal, political context

The attachment of property under the UAPA has become more frequent in Jammu and Kashmir since the reorganisation of the state in 2019. Police and security agencies have described such actions as necessary to “cut financial links that sustain terrorism.”

Officials say properties can be attached only after approval from the competent authority in the Home Department, based on documentary evidence showing their connection to illegal activities. Once attached, the owner cannot sell, lease, or alter the property until the case concludes or a court orders otherwise.

In recent months, several individuals accused of aiding banned organisations have had their assets frozen or attached in Srinagar, Baramulla, Pulwama, and Anantnag districts. Authorities have argued that the measure is aimed at “denying material benefit to those involved in unlawful acts.”

A senior investigating officer involved in the process said, “Every attachment undergoes multiple levels of scrutiny. The goal is not to target individuals arbitrarily but to follow the trail of funding and support structures behind militancy.”

The officer added that “due process is followed in each case,” though those affected retain the right to challenge the order before a designated court.

Reactions in Srinagar’s legal fraternity

While there has been no formal statement from the Kashmir Bar Association since the attachment, several lawyers privately expressed concern that the move could “further strain relations” between the legal community and the administration.

A senior advocate practising in Srinagar, who requested not to be named, said the development “will have a chilling effect on the independence of the Bar.” However, others noted that the government had previously warned that “no one is above the law” and that legal professionals must be held accountable if found aiding prohibited activities.

What happens next

Under Section 25 of the UAPA, once a property is attached, the District Magistrate is required to issue a public notice inviting objections from any interested party within a specified period. The matter is then referred to an adjudicating authority that determines whether the property was indeed derived from terrorism-related proceeds.

In this case, officials say the process will continue as per the established legal procedure, and the final decision will rest on the findings of the adjudicating authority and any subsequent court review.

For now, Mian Abdul Qayoom remains in custody in a separate case, while his Barzulla property remains sealed. The attachment marks the latest development in a long-running legal and political saga involving one of Kashmir’s most prominent lawyers.