NIA Raids 16 Locations In J&K In Terror Funding Case

National Investigation Agency (NIA) launched searches at more than a dozen locations across Jammu and Kashmir in a terror funding case involving a frontal entity of Jamaat-e-Islami, J&K on Tuesday morning.

With the assistance of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF, NIA sleuths started searches at as many as 16 locations in Srinagar, Pulwama, Budgam, Bandipora, Shopian, Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch.

Properties of Islamic preacher Moulana Rehmatullah Qasmi, the founder and rector of Darul Uloom Raheemiyyah, were also raided in Bandipora, as per sources.

In Srinagar, an NIA team conducted a search and seizure operation at the residence of Mufti Mehraj-u-Din Shah, an employee of the state-run Srinagar Engineering College, in Chanapora area.

Simultaneously, another team raided the house of Dr Tajamul Hussain, a doctor by profession, in Sutra Shahi locality of Shaheed Gunj area in Srinagar. Dr Tajamul along with his family moved out to South Africa 10 years back.

The residence of BA Bashir, the president of the Srinagar Fruit Sellers Association, was also searched by a team of the agency in Balgarden neighbourhood.

In Hyderpora, NIA officials searched the residence of Shamim Ahmed lone, a professor at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar. The house of alleged Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) member Hamid Fayaz is also being searched.

In Pulwama, the residence of a government teacher Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat was also raided in Awantipora town. An NIA team also searched the properties of Ali Mohammad Lone in Nehama area and a trust named Alflah Yateem.

As per NIA officials, the raids are being conducted in connection with the terror funding case related to the suspicious activities of Rajouri-based Al-Huda Educational Trust, which the agency said is a front organisation of the proscribed outfit Jamaat-e-Islami, J&K.

The case was registered suo-moto by the agency about the funding pattern and activities of the trust under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.