J&K Police Launch Massive Crackdown on Banned Jamaat-e-Islami Across Union Territory

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday initiated a large-scale operation against cadres and sympathisers of the proscribed Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) across the Union Territory, detaining scores of individuals for questioning and seizing incriminating materials, including mobile phones, laptops, pen drives, SIM cards, and other devices. Several detainees are expected to face preventive detention under relevant laws.

This action follows a recent 15-day intelligence-driven operation that dismantled an inter-state and transnational terror network linked to banned outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH), an ISIS affiliate. The police also targeted local militants operating from Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), their overground workers (OGWs), support structures, former militants, and those accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Described as a “white-collar terror ecosystem” exploiting professional and academic networks to fund and sustain terrorism under a respectable facade, the operation against the JeM-AGuH module initially resulted in the arrest of eight high-value operatives—including three doctors—and the seizure of 2,900 kg of explosives along with sophisticated weapons. The same module is allegedly linked to Monday's deadly Delhi blast, which killed 12 people and injured many others.

The J&K police said that in a coordinated crackdown, they raided over 200 locations, including homes and premises of JeI members and associates in southern Kulgam district, to dismantle grassroots terror support networks. Over the past four days, more than 400 Cordon and Search Operations (CASOs) were conducted in Kulgam areas linked to past encounters, militant hideouts, and OGWs, a statement said, adding that around 500 individuals affiliated with JeI, J&K natives operating from Pakistan (JKNOPs), and other banned outfits were interrogated, many were bound down and shifted to District Jail Mattan in Anantnag under preventive laws. Incriminating documents, digital devices, and evidentiary materials were seized, with several JeI members questioned to trace wider terror-aid networks.

In northwestern Baramulla district, simultaneous raids at over 30 locations across Sopore, Zaingeer, and Rafiabad targeted JeI-linked individuals and premises, based on intelligence about efforts to revive activities under new fronts, the police said. Assisted by central security forces, the operation recovered significant incriminating materials, including documents, digital gadgets, and printed content tied to the banned group, the police said, adding multiple suspects are under questioning for potential involvement in unlawful activities.

In Anantnag, approximately 500 persons with ties to banned organisations, including JeI and JKNOP relatives, have been interrogated to date. Many were placed under preventive detention at District Jail Mattan. Raids yielded incriminating documents, digital devices, and other evidence, aiding investigations into terror support networks, the police said.

In neighbouring Shopian, searches focused on residences of JeI activists, including those of former party chief Dr. Hameed Fayaz in Naidgam and Mohammad Yousuf Falahi in Chitragam, as part of ongoing probes.

In capital Srinagar, extensive raids across all city zones, covering over 150 premises linked to proscribed groups' associates and OGWs, were supervised by senior officers and assisted by the Special Operations Group (SOG). “Conducted with Executive Magistrates and independent witnesses, the operations aimed to recover evidence under UAPA investigations and preempt militant revival. Strict legal action was pledged against those aiding anti-national activities,” a police statement said.

In northern Bandipora, coordinated searches at JeI members' homes and associates' locations seized documents and digital devices. Several individuals were questioned and bound down to curb further unlawful involvement.

In central district of Budgam, raids in Soibugh, Magam, Khansahib, Beerwah, Chadoora, and Charar-i-Sharief targeted JeI premises for incriminating materials and electronic evidence of continued banned affiliations, the police said.

In Pulwama, acting on intelligence, multiple teams raided sites to disrupt covert JeI revival efforts, the police said, adding that the seized items included electronic devices, documents, and literature linked to the outfit and that suspects were detained for questioning.

Ganderbal also saw district-wide raids during which the police, assisted by security agencies, targeted JeI elements attempting revival via front groups, the police said. Large quantities of documents, digital devices, and printed materials were seized, it said and added suspects were detained for role verification in subversive activities. Similar raids were conducted in Kupwara, Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban districts.

J&K Police described these intelligence-led actions as part of a sustained strategy to neutralise terror-separatist ecosystems, disrupt ideological, financial, and logistical networks, and prevent revival of banned groups. “All operations adhered to legal procedures,” it said.

Meanwhile, in a separate Action in Shopian, the police registered FIR No. 109/2025 at Zainapora Police Station against a viral Facebook video from the page "Voice of Humanity," featuring a speech allegedly promoting separatist tendencies and disturbing public tranquility. Investigation is underway, the police said and added, “J&K Police reaffirmed their zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism and its ecosystem, vowing strict legal measures against those misusing social media or aiding proscribed organizations to ensure lasting peace, stability, and security across the region.

In February last year, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) extended its ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir by five more years, asserting that the decision has been prompted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s, ‘zero tolerance policy’ towards terrorism and separatism.

The MHA had in February 2019 while justifying its decision to ban the JeI said that it still has the potential to disrupt the unity and integrity of the country. It had asserted that if the party’s activities are not curbed immediately, it is likely to “escalate its subversive activities including an attempt to carve out an Islamic State out of the territory of Union of India”, continue advocating the secession of Jammu and Kashmir, and propagate “anti-national and separatist” sentiments.

It said that the move to ban the JeI was made also because of the fact that the JeI is the main organisation responsible for the propagation of separatist and radical ideology in the (erstwhile) state particularly Kashmir Valley. The decision had come days after more than 250 of its activists including the entire leadership were arrested by the police from different parts of the Valley. The party’s leadership and most other prominent members continue to be incarcerated whereas various law enforcing agencies including the J&K State Intelligence Agency (SIA) have confiscated hundreds of is properties across the Union Territory “in consonance with the government’s policy of zero tolerance towards anti-State activities” since.

JeI, J&K is an independent organisation-separate from Jamaat-e-Islamic Hind and Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan. It supported the demand of plebiscite in J&K and is known for its pro-Pakistan leaning. In 1987, it was the main driving force behind the formation of Muslim United Front (MUF) which fought State Assembly elections against the NC-Congress combine.

It is said that the elections were rigged in favour of the ruling party leading to many of those associated with the MUF to turn to the gun. One of them was Muhammad Yusuf Shah who later became known as Syed Salahuddin, the ‘supreme commander’ of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and chief of United Jihad Council, the alliance of pro-Pakistani militant outfits.

The JeI, J&K, formed in 1942, was banned during the Emergency and later also during the heyday of militancy in J&K. It, however, distanced from militancy in 1997 and subsequently split with separatist patriarch Syed Ali Shah Geelani with likeminded Jamaat cadres forming his own group called J&K Tehreek-e-Hurriyat. The MHA had in December 2023 declared the Tehrik-e-Hurriyat too as an “unlawful association” and banned it for a period of five years under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.