Srinagar: Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district have “seized” nine properties of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami and ordered a ban on entry and its usage by any person.
The directions have been issued by District Magistrate Shopian under Section 8 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, following the communication by the Jammu and Kashmir’s State Investigation Agency (SIA) that is investigating a case against the banned group.
The SIA during its probe found the nine properties owned by and under possession of banned association Jamat-e-Islami are located in the jurisdiction of district Shopian and are to be notified in terms of section 8 UA(P) Act, the DM notification read.
The properties included land in villages at Batapora and Heepora Batagund and school buildings at Bongam and Kanipora of the district.
The DM notification read that after obtaining the report from concerned Tehsildar and after perusal of revenue record pertaining to these properties, it was found that these properties are owned by or under possession of banned Jamat-e-Islami association through their members.
It added that the DM was satisfied that there was sufficient material to notify these properties under the Act.
“On perusal of the records and other connected documents, I, District Magistrate Shopian, am satisfied that there is sufficient material to notify the above mentioned properties under the Act,” the notification read.
The District Magistrate prohibited the entry and usage of these properties by any person(s), association(s) or legal entity other than investigating officers of SIA for the purpose of investigation and police officers having jurisdiction for the purpose of enforcing the usage related prohibition and restrictions.
The Jamat was banned by the union government in early 2019, for five years under Section 3 of the UAPA, as the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said the group was “involved in anti-national and subversive” activities “intending to cause disaffection.”
After the ban the J&K government launched a massive crackdown against group.