Srinagar, Oct 11: National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday carried out searches at 18 different locations in eight districts of Jammu and Kashmir in connection with suspected funding activities of Al Huda Educational Trust ( AHET), Rajouri. One person has been arrested from Rajouri in connection with case, it said.

The NIA said that the searches were carried in Rajouri, Poonch, Jammu, Srinagar, Bandipora, Shopian, Pulwama and Budgam districts.

The NIA arrested Mohammad Ameer Shamshi of Rajouri, J&K in the case related to “criminal activities of AHET, Rajouri, J&K.”

It said that Jamaat-e-lslami (Jel) J&K, after being declared as an ‘unlawful association’ under UA(P)Act, has been continuing its activities through its frontal organizations.

“One such organisation is Al Huda Educational Trust( AHET) of district Rajouri,” NIA said, adding, “AHUT has been found raising funds through various means, including donations, hawala etc purportedly for charitable purposes, but are instead using these funds to radicalize and incite the youth of J&K for unlawful activities and disrupt the territorial integrity and sovereignty of India.” NIA had suo-moto registered the case on 3 September 2022.

“Investigations have revealed that arrested accused Mohammad Ameer Shamshi is the Chairperson (Nizam-e-ala) of AHET and acts on the directions of the Chief Patron of the Trust,” it said, adding, “Investigations have also revealed that the ex-officio Chief Patron of AHET is the Ameer-e-Jamaat, Jel (J&K).”

The trust, the NIA said, has continued to raising funds even after the declaration of JEI, J&K as an ‘unlawful association’. “Suspect links with other NGOs and trusts operating in the Kashmir valley have also emerged during investigations,” NIA said in a statement.

“During the searches conducted, several mobile devices and documents related to funding, properties etc have been seized,” it said, adding, “Further investigations in the case are in progress.”