Srinagar, Feb 10: In an ongoing effort to dismantle Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), an organisation classified as an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act due to funding of terrorism, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted raids at fifteen different locations in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. An official release stated that NIA teams raided the homes of multiple suspects at five different sites in Srinagar, three in Budgam, two in Kulgam, one in Anantnag, and four in Jammu. “During the extensive searches, incriminating documents and digital devices related to the activities of JeI and its related Trusts in J&K were seized, and over 20 lakh rupees in cash were recovered,” the statement continued.Even after the group was outlawed under the UA(P) Act in February 2019, JeI and its members have persisted in promoting terrorist and separatist actions in J&K, according to NIA investigations into the case, which was filed on February 5, 2021. “The prohibited organization’s operators had been gathering money through donations from both domestic and international sources,” the NIA stated. The money was allegedly raised to support charitable endeavours and other welfare initiatives including health and education, but it was actually utilised to carry out violent and separatist operations, according to NIA investigations. The money was primarily gathered through Zakat, Mowda, and Bait-ul-Mal.Furthermore, it was discovered that well-organized networks of JeI cadres were transferring the money the organisation raised to other terrorist groups that were outlawed, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM). Additionally, JeI was recruiting new members (Rukuns) in J&K and inspiring naïve youth to further its nefarious and separatist actions. Four accused parties were charged earlier in the case by NIA; the investigation is still ongoing.
