J&K govt declares Shopian Madrasa unlawful under UAPA over Jamaat-e-Islami links

The Jammu  Kashmir administration has declared Darul Uloom Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom, a Madrasa, in Imam Sahib, Shopian, as an unlawful organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, citing alleged links with the banned Jamaat-e-Islami, along with claims of financial irregularities and misuse of the institution’s premises.

 

 

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg issued a two-page order based on the dossier presented by Senior Superintendent of Police Shopian pointing towards the alleged illegal activities at Darul Uloom Jamia Sirajul Uloom at Imam Sahib in Shopian district.

 

 

According to the order issued on April 24, there were "credible inputs and evidence on record, to indicate sustained and covert linkages of the institution with Jamaat-e-Islami, which the Government of India banned in 2019.

 

 

“In exercise of the powers conferred under Section 8(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, I, Anshul Garg, IAS, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, hereby notify Darul Uloom Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom, Imam Sahib, Shopian, as an Unlawful Entity/Place Under UA(P)Act, 1967," reads the order.

 

 

The government order says that the seminary was involved in radicalisation and several former students of the institution had allegedly engaged in militant activities. The government has also cited financial opacity and suspected diversion of funds as grounds for declaring the madrasa an unlawful entity.