NIA raids premises of 7 Jamaat members in terror-funding case

Our Correspondent

Jammu, August 8

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted raids at several locations in Jammu and Doda districts of the UT in connection with a terror-funding case involving members of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) on Monday.

Searches were conducted in Sunjuwan area of Jammu and many places of mountainous Doda district. Sleuths of the NIA, along with local policemen and CRPF personnel, reached the premises of Jamaat members early in the morning. The areas were cordoned off to ensure no law and order problem arises.

An official of the agency informed, “The NIA conducted searches on the premises of six suspects in Doda and one in Jammu. The Jamaat-e-Islami, even after its declaration as Unlawful Association in 2019, continues to raise funds in various forms purportedly for charitable purposes.”

The official further said, “These funds are being diverted to terrorist groups, such as Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba, for promoting terrorist activities in Kashmir as well as the rest of India.”

Sources in the police informed that the house of a retired forest official was also searched in Sunjuwan who had allegedly received money to be used for terror funding.

The officials of the agency seized incriminating literature, receipts of funds raised by Jamaat, bank and property-related documents and electronic devices, sources said.

In Doda, raids were conducted at different locations, including Munshi Mohalla, Kharoti Bhagwah, Nagri Basti and Dhara Gundana. In June this year, the NIA had conducted searches at the houses of those linked with the organisation in Kashmir.

The suo moto case was registered by the NIA on February 5 last year.

“The 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 earlier said.

It is worth mentioning here that a few days ago, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) had unearthed how terror groups were using cryptocurrency to fuel militancy in J&K.

Diverted funds for terror activities

• The case pertains to collection of funds by Jamaat-e-Islami members purportedly to further charity and other welfare activities, but the money was used for ‘secessionist’ activities.
• The funds are also channelised to groups, such as Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba, through well organised networks of Jamaat-e-Islami cadres, say officials.

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