Massive Crackdown in Kashmir: Police & CRPF Launch Raids on Jamaat-e-Islami Networks Amid Fears of Revival

Editor
Massive Crackdown in Kashmir: Police & CRPF Launch Raids on Jamaat-e-Islami Networks Amid Fears of Revival

Police, CRPF Conduct Statewide Raids on Banned Jamaat-e-Islami in Kashmir

By: Javid Amin | 27 November 2025

A Sweeping Security Operation Signals a New Phase of Crackdown

In one of the largest coordinated operations conducted this year, the Jammu & Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) carried out dozens of simultaneous raids on properties linked to the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) across the Kashmir Valley.
The searches spanned at least six districts—Pulwama, Anantnag, Budgam, Kulgam, Kupwara, and Srinagar—and included residences, madrassas, bookshops, mosques, and educational institutions.

The broad sweep of this crackdown marks the latest attempt by security agencies to dismantle what they call the “terror support ecosystem,” amid concerns that JeI networks are attempting covert revival since their 2019 ban.

The Crackdown: What Happened and Where

1. Valley-Wide Raids

Security forces launched near-synchronized raids early in the morning, targeting:

  • Homes of former JeI members

  • Madrassas and affiliated seminaries

  • Properties of JeI-linked trusts

  • Offices and bookshops handling religious texts

  • Institutions receiving donations under scrutiny

Districts raided:

  • Pulwama

  • Anantnag

  • Budgam

  • Kulgam

  • Kupwara

  • Srinagar

The operation involved special anti-terror teams, CRPF Quick Action Teams, and personnel from multiple police wings including CID and SIA (State Investigation Agency).

Key Locations Targeted

A. Educational Institutions & Madrassas

Security forces searched:

  • Jamia Islamia Institute, Handwara (Kupwara)

  • Multiple madrassas in Pulwama and Budgam

  • Mosques suspected to receive JeI-linked donations

These institutions are being examined for:

  • Possible financial channels

  • Recruitment influence

  • Dissemination of “radical material”

  • Administrators linked to JeI networks

B. Trusts & Bookshops

Raids were conducted on:

  • Chinar Publication Trust, Maisuma (Srinagar)

  • Al-Kousar Book Shop, Maisuma

  • Other publishing houses printing religious material

Inspectors seized:

  • Documents and account books

  • Donation receipts

  • Electronic devices

  • Educational materials under scrutiny

C. Residences of Key Individuals

Among those whose properties were searched:

  • Umar Sultan Guru

  • Mohd Abdullah Wani

  • Several former JeI office-bearers and sympathizers

These individuals are believed to be:

  • Maintaining residual ideological networks

  • Facilitating communication or funding channels

  • Potential links to “white-collar terror modules”

Why These Raids Were Conducted: The Official Narrative

Authorities claim the crackdown is part of a preventive, intelligence-led strategy triggered by:

1. Fear of JeI’s Clandestine Revival

Security agencies allege that despite the ban imposed in February 2019, JeI networks:

  • Continue underground organizational meetings

  • Maintain influence over religious and social institutions

  • Are attempting “low-profile restructuring”

  • Receive funds from hidden channels

2. Links to “White-Collar Terror Modules”

Recent arrests in Kashmir have included:

  • IT professionals

  • Teachers

  • Engineers

  • Religious scholars

Police argue that extremist networks have evolved into “white-collar modules”—educated individuals using professional roles to:

  • Move funds discreetly

  • Conduct ideological outreach

  • Offer logistical support to militant sources

3. Increasing Digital and Foreign Funding Monitoring

Authorities suspect:

  • Digital wallets

  • NGO-linked funds

  • Hawala routes

  • Overseas donations

may be facilitating JeI’s attempt to regain relevance.

The Historical Context: Why Jamaat-e-Islami Remains Under Close Watch

The 2019 Ban

JeI was banned under the UAPA for allegedly:

  • Funding separatism

  • Being ideologically aligned with militant narratives

  • Offering logistical cover to extremist groups

  • Running influence networks in educational institutions

Publicly, JeI has always denied militant links, insisting it is a socio-religious organization.

JeI Leaders Allowed to Contest in 2024

In a controversial turn, some JeI members were quietly cleared to contest the 2024 elections, prompting speculation that the government wanted to politically mainstream part of the Jamaat.

Opposition leaders now ask:

  • If JeI is dangerous, why allow political participation?

  • If it is safe, why conduct large-scale raids again?

Thus, the ban and selective clearance have created political ambiguities.

Political Sensitivity: A Volatile Issue in a Polarized Landscape

Opposition Parties Warn of “Selective Targeting”

Several regional parties—including the National Conference, PDP, and Apni Party—have expressed concerns.

They argue:

  • Raids on religious institutions must be backed by transparent evidence

  • Broad sweeps risk alienating communities

  • Targeting Islamic institutions creates a perception of profiling

  • JeI’s social role in rural Kashmir complicates blanket criminalization

They also warn of:

  • Potential erosion of civil liberties

  • Shrinking political space

  • Fear among the Valley’s clerics and educators

Government Line: National Security Comes First

The administration maintains:

  • No religious institution is being targeted “per se”

  • Only individuals and assets linked to a banned organization are under watch

  • Public safety overrides political sensitivities

The Lieutenant Governor’s office and J&K Police insist the raids are “evidence-driven.”

Human Rights & Civil Liberties Concerns

Rights groups and civil society actors raise questions about:

1. Due Process

Are homes being searched with proper warrants?
Are seizures documented transparently?

2. Impact on Education

Raids on madrassas and institutes can:

  • Create fear among students

  • Disrupt academic activities

  • Trigger social stigma

3. Broad-Based Crackdowns vs Targeted Policing

Critics argue that:

  • Giant sweeps often catch innocents in the net

  • Banners of “terror ecosystem” may be used too broadly

  • Community trust erodes when policing lacks transparency

Security Perspective: Why Forces Believe This Crackdown Is Necessary

Senior police officials argue:

1. JeI Social Networks Are Deep-Rooted

Even after the ban:

  • Teachers

  • Imams

  • Social workers

  • Local influencers

allegedly continue to propagate Jamaat philosophies in subtle forms.

2. JeI’s Role in Kashmir’s Past Militancy

Historically, JeI has been linked (ideologically) to:

  • Radical Islamist movements

  • Early separatist mobilization

  • Former insurgent factions (though it denies involvement)

Security agencies believe ignoring these networks risks a slow re-radicalization cycle.

3. Preventing a 1990s-Style Regrouping

With geopolitical shifts in Afghanistan and Pakistan, intelligence agencies fear attempts to:

  • Recreate insurgent infrastructure

  • Reopen local recruitment channels

  • Leverage Kashmir’s youth unemployment

The raids, they say, are “preemptive, not reactive.”

Public Sentiment: Mixed Reactions Across the Valley

1. Fear and Uncertainty

Residents expressed concern over:

  • Early morning raids

  • Presence of armed forces near mosques and schools

  • Seizure of religious books and digital devices

2. Some See It As Necessary

A section of the population—especially in urban areas—views:

  • JeI’s past political & social dominance as problematic

  • Crackdowns as necessary to prevent extremist resurgence

3. Many Fear Overreach

Common concerns include:

  • Sweeping crackdowns turning into communal tension

  • Negative labeling of religious institutions

  • Constant surveillance chilling everyday life

What Happens Next: Legal and Administrative Fallout

1. More Raids Expected

Sources in the Home Department indicate:

  • Additional rounds of searches

  • Detailed audits of all JeI-linked properties

  • Financial tracing using cyber forensics

2. Court Challenges Likely

Families and organizations may:

  • Challenge search legality

  • Seek clarity on seized items

  • Contest “association” claims

3. Possible Arrests

If evidence of:

  • Funding links

  • Recruitment

  • Propaganda

  • Terror facilitation

is found, arrests may follow.

Conclusion: A Clash Between Security Needs and Civil Liberties

The latest crackdown is a reminder of how deeply the Jamaat-e-Islami question remains embedded in Kashmir’s political and social fabric.

For security agencies, JeI represents:

  • A networked, ideological infrastructure

  • A potential breeding ground for new-age militancy

  • A “preemptive threat” requiring aggressive action

For political parties and civil society, the raids raise concerns about:

  • Overreach

  • Community profiling

  • Shrinking democratic space

  • Long-term alienation

As Kashmir continues navigating its post-2019 transition, the balance between national security imperatives and constitutional civil liberties remains one of its most contested battlegrounds.

Related posts