NIA raids 15 locations in militancy funding case

SRINAGAR — In connection with a militancy funding case, sleuths of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday early morning carried out raids at 15 locations in J&K.

NIA spokesperson in a statement said that its teams swooped down on the premises of various suspects at five locations in Srinagar, three in Budgam, two in Kulgam, one in Anantnag and four in Jammu.

“Incriminating documents and digital devices connected with the activities of JeI (Jamaat-e-Islami) and its related Trusts in J&K were seized during the extensive searches, which also led to the recovery of over 20 lakh rupees in case,” said the spokesperson in the statement.

The probing agency said that its investigations in the case, registered on February 5, 2021, have so far revealed that JeI and its members have continued to promote militant and secessionist activities in J&K even after the outfit was proscribed under the UA(P) Act in February 2019. “Operatives of the banned organisation had been collecting funds through donations from within India and abroad.”

“The funds were collected mainly in the form of Zakat, Mowda and Bait-ul-Maal, purported to promote charity and other welfare activities, such as health and education, but were instead being used for carrying out violent and secessionist activities,” reads the statement.

It was further found that the funds raised by JeI were also being channelled to other proscribed militant organisations, such as Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) etc, through well-organised networks of JeI cadres, the NIA said, adding that JeI was also engaged in motivating impressionable youth and recruiting new members (Rukuns) in J&K to further its nefarious and secessionist activities.

NIA had earlier charge-sheeted four accused persons in the case in which investigations are continuing, it added.