NIA carries out searches at multiple places in Jammu, Doda districts against JeI members in terror funding case

In Jammu and Kashmir, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) today carried out searches at multiple places in Jammu and Doda districts against members of banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) in a terror funding case. AIR correspondent reports that simultaneous raids are underway at nearly a dozen places at the premises of JeI office bearers and members in different parts of the two districts since early this morning. The raids are being 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 case, registered by NIA suo moto on 5th of February last year, pertains to the activities of the JeI 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 NIA, the funds being raised by JeI are also channelised to proscribed terrorist organisations such as Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba and others through well organised networks of JeI cadres. Worth to mention, 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 J&K.