NIA continues its crackdown against JeI, raids 5 places in Bandipora

Continuing its crackdown against Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday conducted raids at five locations in north Kashmir district of Bandipora in connection with a terror funding case.

These raids come a day after the investigation agency conducted raids at over 56 locations in 14 districts of J&K – including all 10 districts of Kashmir valley on Sunday.

An NIA spokesperson said that the its sleuths — assisted by Police and CRPF — in continuation of the searches conducted on Sunday against JeI, an outfit that was banned by the centre in 2019 for its ‘closed links’ with militant outfits, conducted searches at five places in Bandipora on Monday.

He said Searches conducted today included the premises of office bearers and members of the proscribed association, JeI. “During the searches, various incriminating documents and electronic devices were seized from the premises of the suspects,” he said.

He said a case was registered by NIA on February 5, 2021 in pursuance to order from Ministry of Home Affairs relating to separatist and secessionist activities of JeI, an unlawful association under the UA(P) Act, even after its proscription on February 28, 2019.

On Sunday, raids were conducted in Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal in central; Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipore in north and Anantnag, Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam in south Kashmir. In Jammu division, the raids were being conducted in Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar and Rajouri districts.

The spokesperson said that the funds raised by JeI were also being channelised to proscribed militant organisations such as Hizbul-Mujahideen (HM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and others through well organised networks of JeI cadres. “JeI has also been motivating impressionable youth of Kashmir and recruiting new members (Rukuns) in J&K to participate in disruptive secessionist activities,” he said.

Earlier this week, NIA carried out raids and detained a man for questioning in a case pertaining to terror connection in north Kashmir district of Bandipora. On July 31, the NIA raided 14 locations in J&K in connection with cases related to the recovery of IED and the arrest of Lashkar-e-Mustafa top commander Hidayatullah Malik.

UNI