The State Investigation Agency (SIA) on Saturday seized property worth ₹122.89 crore, mainly land plots, of the banned socio-religious Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) organisation in Kulgam, Pulwama, Budgam and Srinagar, including the house of late Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani in the city.
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An official spokesman said the two-storey residential house constructed over 17 marlas and 199 square feet at Barzulla, in the name of Geelani and Firdous Ahmad Asmi, was sealed under provisions of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
“The action would uproot the menace of militant funding to a great extent in Jammu and Kashmir, besides being a stepping stone in ensuring the rule of law and a society without fear,” the SIA said.
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A total of 188 JeI properties have been identified for action across J&K. “Either they have been notified or are under the process of being notified for further legal action,” the SIA said.
According to the SIA, during seizure proceedings about a dozen business establishments in Kulgam, including a shopping complex at Magam, were found running from these JeI properties on rent basis.
Policeman stand guard in front of the gate of late Hurriyat Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s residential structures constructed over 17 Marlas of property land at Barzulla, in Srinagar, on December 20, 2022. | Photo Credit: NISSAR AHMAD
“After due diligence, it was decided that these would be allowed to continue so that private persons who may not have any connections with JeI and are only tenants paying rent to JeI, are not penalised and their livelihood is not impaired,” a release said.
The socio-religious group, JeI, was banned in February 2019 as “an unlawful association” under Section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The organisation has participated in several elections in J&K prior to 1990.