Pranav Mathur, Pune
On Tuesday, the Central Government extended the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), Jammu and Kashmir, by five years, with immediate effect. The centre declared the workings of the organisation an “unlawful association.” While declaring an extension on the ban, Home Minister Amit Shah said that anyone who poses a threat to our country will have to face ruthless measures. It was observed that Jamaat-e-Islami J-K continued their operations against the security, integrity, and sovereignty of the country. 47 cases registered against the terror outfit were listed, in which the Center said they were in close contact with various militant outfits.
On Saturday, the National Investigation Agency, or NIA, carried out raids as part of its clampdown on Jamaat-e-Islami in an alleged terror funding charge. This decision swiftly followed the raids. The busts were executed in the following prime locations: Srinagar, Anantnag, Bulgam, and Jammu, resulting in the successful confiscation of incriminating documents, devices, and a sum of approximately 20 lakhs that were in connection with the JeI’s operations. One of the investigations done in 2021 also revealed that a few members of the outfit did not stop promoting terrorist and separatist activities in Jammu and Kashmir after being disallowed to do so under the “Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in February 2019.
It was further elucidated that the outfit is still in line with the idea of the separation of a part of Indian territory from the Union, with interests that match those of different terrorist and separatist groups that fight for this purpose by indulging in activities that look to derange the integrity of the country. Members of the banned organisation were collecting funds through donations, and not only through India but abroad as well. These funds were collected as Zakat, Mowda, and Bait-ul-Mal. The people were told that it was to raise charity and other welfare activities that would help the citizens, but instead the funds were used to go ahead with violent and secessionist activities. It was further noticed that the funds were also sent out to other banned terrorist organisations such as Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba. To expand their secessionist activities, JeI was also found inspiring and recruiting young kids.