NIA carries out big raid in J&K
Finds charity money funnelled to ultras
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday carried out raids at the offices of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) in Jammu and Kashmir and the homes of its leaders and prominent activists across the Union Territory in connection with a case registered earlier this year by it against the rightwing cadre-based socioreligious-political outfit for allegedly diverting large sums of money received through donations at home and abroad to fund separatist militants.
As many as 56 locations in eight of J&K’s 20 districts were raided and thoroughly searched by scores of NIA teams, which were assisted by the local police and CRPF personnel, sources said. The searches were also carried out at the offices and other premises of Falah-eAam Trust, a JeI subsidiary that runs schools and orphanages in J&K. The raids were conducted in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Anantnag, Budgam, Rajouri, Doda and Shopian, among other areas. The Union home ministry had on February 28, 2019 banned the JeI for five years after declaring it an “unlawful association”. The MHA said it had the potential of disrupting the nation’s unity and integrity, and claimed if the party’s activities were not curbed immediately, it was likely to “escalate its subversive activities, including an attempt to carve out an Islamic State out of the territory of Union of India”, continue advocating the secession of J&K, and propagate “anti-national and separatist” sentiments.
The MHA had claimed the JeI was the main organisation responsible for the propagation of separatist and radical ideology in the former state, particularly in the Kashmir Valley.
The NIA said JeI members was collecting funds domestically and abroad through donations, particularly zakat and other forms of mandatory and voluntary Islamic charity to help the needy and carrying out various welfare activities, “but these funds are instead being used for secessionist activities”.
It alleged: “The funds raised by JeI are also being channeled to militants such as Hizb-ulMujahideen, Lashkar-eTayyaba and others through well organised networks of JeI cadres. The JeI has also been motivating impressionable youth of Kashmir and recruiting new arakeen (members) to participate in disruptive secessionist activities.”
● 56 LOCATIONS in eight of J&K’s 20 districts were raided and thoroughly searched by scores of NIA teams, which were assisted by the police and CRPF personnel, sources said.