NIA raids 16 JeI locations including Govt teacher, Amir’s houses in Kishtwar

‘Jamaat recruiting new members for secessionism’

Funds collected for education used for violence

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 4: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today conducted simultaneous raids at 16 locations in Baramulla and Kishtwar districts of the UT covering the cadre of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) as investigations revealed that the JeI was engaged in motivating impressionable youth of Kashmir and recruiting new members in J&K for carrying out violent, disruptive and secessionist activities.

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“The JeI cadre was collecting funds domestically and abroad through donations and using them for violent and secessionist activities. The funds are also being channelled to Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and others through well organized networks,” an official statement released by the NIA after raids, said.
Six houses of Jamaat cadre including a Government teacher were raided by the NIA teams in Kishtwar district today.
Those whose houses were searched in Kishtwar district include Rashid Gilkar Ahmad, former Amir-e-Zila, Jamaat-ul-Tulba son of late Mushtaq Ahmad Gilkar, Zia-ul-Haq alias Mintoo son of Ghulam Ahmad Mintoo, a Government teacher and a resident of Link Road, Abdul Kabir Zargar son of Abdul Gani Zargar, Khursheed Ahmad Bagwan son of Habibullah Bagwan R/o Bagwan Mohalla, Farooq Ahmad Dev son of late Ghulam Rasool Dev, a resident of Brahman Mohalla and Nassir Ahmad Bagwan son of Khurshid Ahmad Bagwan, also a resident of Bagwan Mohalla.
Some important documents and electronic gadgetries were recovered during searches by the NIA at 16 locations in Baramulla and Kishtwar districts which will be examined during investigations.
“Today’s raids were linked to a case registered by the NIA related to separatist and secessionist activities of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami organization,” the official statement said.
It added that even after being declared as an unlawful association under Unlawful Activities Prevent Act (UAPA) on February 28, 2019, the Jamaat was found carrying out terror funding in Jammu and Kashmir.
As per the official statement, the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir members had been collecting funds domestically and from abroad through donations, particularly in the form of `Zakat, Mowda and Bait-ul-Mal’ as well as for purported charitable purposes such as promotion of education and health.
However, the funds were instead being used for violent and secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. They were also being channelled to proscribed terrorist organizations such as HM, LeT and other outfits through well organized networks of JeI cadre.
Further, the NIA statement said, the Jamaat cadre was also engaged in motivating impressionable youth of Kashmir and recruiting new members (Rukuns) in the Union Territory for carrying out violent, disruptive and secessionist activities.
“Previous investigations by the NIA had revealed that one of the four arrested accused identified as Javaid Ahmad Lone had been soliciting funds and organizing meetings in the name of JeI J&K. He had also been delivering hateful anti-India speeches and exhorting people to make donations.
“Along with Aadil Ahmad Lone, he had also acquired firearms and ammunition with ulterior motives from the other two accused identified as Manzoor Ahmad Dar and Rameez Ahmad Kondu,” the official statement said
The NIA had filed a charge sheet in the case (RC-03/2021/NIA/DLI) in Special Court, Patiala House in New Delhi on 12th May 2022 against four accused. It had earlier registered a suo moto case in the matter on 5th February 2021.
During the raids, the NIA sleuths were accompanied by police and CRPF.
The searches concluded at almost all the places this evening.
On Tuesday, the NIA swooped in at 12 locations in Jammu and Kashmir as part of its investigation in a Pakistan-backed terror conspiracy case.
Out of the 12 locations, 11 were in the Kashmir valley — eight in Pulwama district and one each in Kulgam, Anantnag, and Budgam districts — while one was in Poonch district of Jammu region.