NIA raids 17 places in seven J&K districts

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday conducted searches at 17 locations in seven districts of Jammu and Kashmir in the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) terror funding case. The agency carried out these searches in the Anantnag, Kulgam, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Budgam, Kishtwar and Jammu districts of the Union Territory. The case was registered by NIA on February 5 this year in connection with separatist and secessionist activities of JeI, an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act even after its proscription on February 28, 2019. “The members of the organisation have been collecting funds domestically and abroad which are being used for violent and secessionist activities,” said the NIA. “JeI has also been motivating impressionable youth of Kashmir and recruiting new members (Rukuns) in J-K to participate in disruptive secessionist activities,” they said. Searches conducted on Wednesday included the premises of office bearers and members of JeI, said the anti-terror agency, adding “various incriminating documents and electronic devices were seized from the premises of the suspects during searches. The NIA conducted the search operation along with the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) from 6 am today. These raids are in continuation of the agency’s 61 raids conducted on August 8 and August 9 in Srinagar.