NIA raids ex-Jamaat-e-Islami chief's residence in Kashmir crackdown
Synopsis
The NIA, backed by J&K Police and CRPF, swept through Srinagar and Shopian on Monday — searching the home of former Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shahzada Aurangzeb and a Centre-banned seminary. With Jamaat already declared an unlawful association for a second five-year term, the raids signal a deepening federal push to dismantle alleged separatist support networks in the Valley.
Key Takeaways
The NIA conducted coordinated raids across Srinagar and Shopian districts on Monday, 26 May 2025 .
The residence of former Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu Kashmir chief Shahzada Aurangzeb in Molu Chitragam, Shopian was among those searched.
Jamia Siraj Ul Uloom in Imamsahib — previously banned by the Centre over alleged terror links — was also raided.
Operations were conducted jointly by the NIA , J&K Police , and CRPF ; no detentions have been confirmed.
Jamaat-e-Islami J&K was declared an 'unlawful association' for a second term in February 2024 under the UAPA, 1967 .
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday, 26 May 2025 conducted coordinated searches at multiple locations across Srinagar and Shopian districts in Jammu and Kashmir, as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged terror activities and anti-national networks, according to official sources.
Key Developments
Among the locations targeted was Jamia Siraj Ul Uloom in Imamsahib, a religious institution that the Centre had previously banned over alleged terror links and anti-national activities, sources said. In a separate operation, an NIA team searched the residence of Shahzada Aurangzeb, the former chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu Kashmir, in the Molu Chitragam area of Shopian district.
The operations were carried out jointly by NIA teams, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Officials have not yet disclosed the specific nature of the case or confirmed whether any detentions were made during the raids, sources added.
Background on Jamaat-e-Islami Ban
In February 2024, the Central government declared Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu Kashmir an 'unlawful association' for a further five years under Section 3(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The organisation had first been banned in February 2019, months before the abrogation of Article 370 provisions from the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Founded in 1941, Jamaat-e-Islami has long been accused by security agencies of fomenting terrorism, spreading anti-India propaganda, and encouraging separatist ideology in the region. Announcing the renewal of the ban, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had stated the decision was consistent with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'zero-tolerance' policy against terrorism and separatism.
Pattern of Enforcement
Monday's raids are the latest in a series of NIA-led operations targeting alleged separatist and terror-linked networks in the Kashmir Valley. This comes amid heightened security activity in the region, with central agencies intensifying scrutiny of organisations and individuals with alleged ties to banned groups. Notably, the NIA's focus on Jamaat-affiliated premises underscores the Centre's continued push to dismantle support structures linked to the proscribed organisation.
What Happens Next
Officials are expected to formally disclose case details once the investigation reaches an appropriate stage. The absence of any confirmed detention as of Monday suggests the raids were primarily intelligence-gathering in nature, though further developments cannot be ruled out as the probe advances.
Point of View
Its leadership prosecuted, and its assets scrutinised — yet the NIA continues to find premises worth searching, which itself says something about the depth of the network under investigation. What remains opaque is the specific trigger for this round of searches: the absence of any confirmed detention or disclosed case detail points to an intelligence-led operation rather than an arrest-driven one. The broader question is whether enforcement alone — without a parallel effort to address the political grievances that feed separatist appeal — can sustainably neutralise such networks.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the NIA conduct raids in Kashmir on 26 May 2025?
The NIA carried out searches across Srinagar and Shopian districts as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged terror activities and anti-national networks, according to official sources. Specific details of the case have not yet been publicly disclosed by the agency.
Whose residence was searched during the NIA operation?
The NIA searched the residence of Shahzada Aurangzeb, the former chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu Kashmir, in the Molu Chitragam area of Shopian district. The searches were conducted jointly with J&K Police and CRPF personnel.
What is Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu Kashmir and why is it banned?
Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu Kashmir is an organisation founded in 1941 that has been accused by security agencies of fomenting terrorism, spreading anti-India propaganda, and promoting separatism. The Centre first banned it in February 2019 and renewed the ban for five more years in February 2024 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
Were any arrests made during the NIA raids?
As of the time of reporting, officials had not confirmed any detentions made during Monday's operation. Sources indicated the searches were linked to an ongoing investigation, suggesting a primarily intelligence-gathering focus.
What is Jamia Siraj Ul Uloom and why was it raided?
Jamia Siraj Ul Uloom is a religious institution in Imamsahib that the Centre had previously banned over alleged terror links and anti-national activities. The NIA conducted a search at the premises as part of Monday's coordinated operation across Kashmir.
