NIA Raids in J&K: NIA raided 45 locations in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today conducted raids at over 40 locations spread over 14 districts in Jammu and Kashmir in connection with a terror funding case.
Premises of some senior members of banned Jamaat-e-Islami, the biggest socio-religious organisation in Jammu and Kashmir, were also searched. The organisation was banned in 2019 for its alleged involvement in secessionist activities. Since then, many of its leaders have been arrested.
Today's raids are part of a massive crackdown by the NIA against separatists and terrorists asserting themselves in the region. This is third major operation by the NIA in last one month.
The raids, assisted by J&K Police and CRPF, were conducted across Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Anantnag, Budgam, Rajouri, Doda, and Shopian, among others.
Members of banned organisation had been collecting donations for charity and other welfare activities but these "funds are instead being used for violent and secessionist activities", the agency said in a statement.
"Funds raised by Jamaat-e-Islami are also being channelised to proscribed terrorist organisations such as Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and others through well organised networks of cadres."
Last month, in a Home Ministry review there was a discussion about the growing influence of Jamaat-e-Islami, an outfit that was banned in 2019.
The Jamaat-e-Islami has also been motivating impressionable youth of Kashmir and recruiting new members in the Union Territory to participate in disruptive secessionist activities, it said.
"Searches conducted today included the premises of office bearers of the proscribed association, its members and also offices of trusts purportedly run by Jamaat-e-Islami. During the searches today, various incriminating documents and electronic devices were seized," said today's NIA statement.
Home Minister Amit Shah had asked security forces to take action in order to stop radicalisation of youth.
On July 10, the investigating agency had arrested six people from across Jammu and Kashmir in connection with a terror funding case.
Earlier on July 10, the NIA had arrested six people from across Jammu and Kashmir in connection with a terror funding case.
Last month, eleven employees of the Jammu and Kashmir government were sacked for having terror links. Among those dismissed were two sons of terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen founder Syed Salahudin.