Jammu: Three prominent leaders of the recently banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) were arrested and nearly a dozen assets sealed during raids across six districts of Jammu province, police said Sunday. They were identified as Mohammad Majeed Sheikh, Mohammad Iqbal Naik and Ghulam Qadir Bhat. Along with them another Jamaat leader, Ghulam Nabi Gundana, was put under house arrest as he had undergone a surgery recently, the police added.
The day-long raids on the offices and houses of JeI leaders and activists were conducted in Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Poonch, Rajouri and Jammu districts Saturday, during which a large quantity of incriminating documents were seized for scrutiny, a police officer said. The officer also informed that at least six bank accounts linked to the group have been identified and the banks concerned directed to immediately freeze them.
The Centre had Thursday banned Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir for five years under anti-terror law on grounds that it was ‘in close touch’ with militant outfits and was expected to ‘escalate secessionist movement’ in the state.
The official also stated that two other Jamaat activists, who were detained in Doda, were later released after questioning. He informed that schools run by JeI in the districts were searched during the raids Sunday but not sealed.
Meanwhile, vice-president of the state Congress unit and former minister GM Saroori voiced his resentment against the crackdown on JeI and said the action against the group is against the democratic set up of the country.
“Jamaat is not a terrorist organisation… It is running over 300 schools in the state for six decades and providing employment to thousands of educated youth,” Saroori, who hails from Kishtwar district, said.
“If government has any proof against Jamaat, it should make it public. The action against anyone involved in terrorism or waging war against the country is justified but banning a group which is involved in religious preaching and believes in Islamic ideology is against the democratic values,” Saroori added.
PTI