The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday, 26 May 2025, conducted simultaneous raids across several districts of Kashmir, targeting overground workers, terror-funding channels, and suspected support networks linked to banned organisations. The operations, backed by the Jammu & Kashmir Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), mark one of the broader coordinated crackdowns in the Valley in recent months.

Key Locations Targeted

Search operations were carried out at the Lal Nazar area of Srinagar and the Imam Sahib area of Shopian, among other locations. NIA teams specifically targeted the Siraj-ul-Uloom institution — linked to the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) — as well as the residence of Shahzada Aurangzeb, the former chief of the banned JeI in Jammu & Kashmir.

According to official sources, the searches covered both residential premises and institutional properties connected to individuals under investigation.

What the Investigation Covers

The NIA's ongoing probe spans multiple overlapping cases, according to officials. These include alleged Pakistan-backed terror conspiracies, cross-border terror funding, targeted killings of civilians and non-locals, and the misuse of cross-LoC trade routes for financing militant activity.

Investigators are also examining the role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and trusts reportedly funnelling funds into Kashmir for what authorities describe as subversive and secessionist activities. The banned JeI is specifically accused of collecting funds allegedly directed toward unlawful and secessionist ends.

Groups and Networks Under the Scanner

The crackdown targets offshoots and affiliated outfits, including The Resistance Front (TRF) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which investigators allege have been radicalising local youth and orchestrating violent attacks in the region. Authorities say the operations also aim to dismantle sleeper cells, overground workers, and so-called hybrid terrorists reportedly planning attacks using smuggled improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Notably, the targeting of recently banned religious seminaries and associates of JeI leadership in Shopian district signals a focus on neutralising institutional support structures rather than just operational cells.

Broader Context

The raids follow a sustained period of heightened security operations in Kashmir, particularly in the wake of renewed concerns over cross-border infiltration and civilian-targeted violence. This is not the first time the NIA has moved against JeI-linked establishments — the organisation was banned in 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and successive crackdowns have targeted its financial and organisational networks since then.

The scale of Monday's coordinated searches, spanning multiple districts simultaneously with multi-agency deployment, suggests investigators believe the networks remain active despite prior action. Further arrests or chargesheet filings are expected as the searches yield documentary and digital evidence.