NIA raids at 11 locations in Kashmir in JeI funding case

An NIA team conducts raid in Sangri area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla on Thursday. -Excelsior/Aabid Nabi
An NIA team conducts raid in Sangri area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla on Thursday. -Excelsior/Aabid Nabi

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 11: The National Investigation Agency today carried out searches at 11 locations in connection with Jamaat-e-Islami funding case.
The NIA in a statement said that it has, in recent days, been tightening the noose around militant funding activities by groups involved in anti-India activities, while strengthening the security apparatus in the Valley.

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The spokesman said that 11 locations in Budgam and Baramulla districts came under NIA’s scanner in today’s searches in the case in which the JeI is accused of engaging in separatist and secessionist activities even after being declared an unlawful association under the UA(P) Act since its proscription on 28th February 2019. NIA had earlier charge sheeted four persons in the case (RC-03/2021/NIA/DLI).
The searches, conducted at the premises of the members and sympathisers of JeI, J&K, led the agency to the recovery of several digital devices and incriminating material, he said.
Investigations so far by the NIA, which had suo moto registered the case on 5th February 2021, have revealed that JeI (J&K) has been collecting money ostensibly for charitable purposes, such as promotion of health and education. It has instead been using the collected funds for carrying out unlawful activities, he said.
NIA has further found that JeI members have been collecting money, both within and outside India, through donations particularly in the form of Zakat, Mowda and Bait-ul-Mal.
It said that JeI has been using the funds used for carrying out violent and secessionist activities, and also channeling them to proscribed militant organisations, such as Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and others through well organised networks of JeI cadre, he said.
JeI has also been motivating Kashmiri youth and recruiting new members (rukuns) in J&K to join its militant and secessionist movement against India, read the statement.