NIA carries out raids in Jammu against JeI members in terror-funding case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday carried out searches at multiple places in Jammu and Doda districts of J&K against members of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) in a terror-funding case.

Simultaneous raids were conducted at seven premises of JeI office-bearers and members in different parts of the two districts in the early hours of Monday, officials said.

“NIA conducted searches at premises of six suspects in Doda and one in Jammu in the case pertaining to JeI, which even after its declaration as an unlawful association in 2019, continues to raise funds in various forms purportedly for charitable purposes,” an NIA spokesperson said.

The NIA said the searches led to the recovery of incriminating literature, receipts of funds raised by JeI, bank and property-related documents, and electronic devices.

Official sources said the raids were carried out at Dhara-Gundana, Munshi Mohalla, Akramband, Nagri Nai Basti, Kharoti Bhagwah, Thalela and Malothi Bhalla in Doda district and Bhatindi in Jammu.

The terror-funding case, registered by NIA suo motu on February 5 last year, pertains to the activities of the Jamaat-e-Islami members who have been collecting funds domestically and abroad through donations, particularly in the form of ‘Zakat, Mowda and Bait-ul-Mal’ purportedly to further charity and other welfare activities but are using the money for “violent and secessionist” activities.

According to the NIA, the funds being raised by JeI are also channelised to proscribed terrorist organisations such as Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba and others through well-organised networks of Jamaat-e-Islami cadre.

“JeI has also been motivating impressionable youth of Kashmir and recruiting new members in the union territory to participate in disruptive secessionist activities,” the NIA had said.

In February 2019, the Centre had banned JeI for five years under anti-terror laws on grounds that it was “in close touch” with militant outfits and was expected to “escalate secessionist movement” in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

A notification banning the group under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was issued by the ministry of home affairs after a high-level meeting on security chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Hundreds of JeI activists were arrested in a major crackdown across Jammu and Kashmir following the ban, which came just months ahead of the abrogation of the special status of the erstwhile state and its bifurcation into two UTs in August 2019.