Srinagar: National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday carried out searches at eleven locations in Budgam, Barmulla districts locations in connection with Jamaat-e-Islami case, officials said.
NIA 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.”
According to spokesman, a total of 11 locations came under NIA’s scanner in 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 28 February 2019. NIA had earlier chargesheeted four persons in the case (RC-03/2021/NIA/DLI).
The searches, conducted at the premises of the members and sympathizers 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, he claimed, 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 militant organizations such as Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (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.”