NIA searches 11 locations in twin Kashmir districts in JeI Terror Funding Case

‘Funds collected by JeI for charity were used to carry out terror activities in J&K’

New Delhi, May 11  : The National Investigation Agency on Thursday searched multiple locations in twin districts of the Kashmir Valley in a case linked to Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) Terror Funding.

In a statement, issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), NIA said that in recent days it has been tightening the noose around terror funding activities by groups involved in anti-India activities, while strengthening the security apparatus in the Valley.

The searches, as per the NIA, were carried out in Budgam and Baramulla districts.

“A total of 11 locations came under NIA’s scanner in Thursday’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 chargesheeted four persons in the case (RC-03/2021/NIA/DLI),” reads the statement.

It reads that the searches, conducted at the premises of the members and sympathisers of JeI, led to recovery of several digital devices and incriminating material.

It added that that investigations so far by the NIA, which had suo moto registered the case on 5th February 2021, have revealed that JeI 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.”

It reads 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.

“They have been using the funds used for carrying out violent and secessionist activities, and also channeling them to proscribed terrorist organisations, such as Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and others through well organised networks of JeI cadres.”

It reads JeI has also been motivating Kashmiri youth and recruiting new members in J&K to join its terrorist and secessionist movement against India—(KNO)