Sealed under UAPA, Jamat office in J&K sees quiet takeover – by offshoot

In Shopian, former Jamat members have written to the Deputy Commissioner asking him to “ascertain under what authority occupation (of the office) has taken place” and to remove the “occupiers”.

For their part, authorities said they have issued notice to the JDF.

The signboard installed by District Magistrate announcing the premises is attached. (Express Photo)

Following the ban on Jamat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir under the UAPA in February 2019, a number of its assets were seized. These also included the group’s Shopian office that was attached in November 2022 in a case registered by the State Investigative Agency (SIA) under sections 10, 11 and 13 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

A signboard that was installed by the District Magistrate, Shopian, on the premises following the attachment reads: “Occupants of this property and public is informed that it has been put under restrictions including usage. Any violation of this order will attract penal provisions of law”.

However, the JDF — a political party set-up by a few former Jamat leaders and disowned by Jamat top brass — has evidently set up its office on its premises.

JDF President Shamim Thoker acknowledged that the group has taken over the premises of FAT. Even as he denied the allegation with regard to Jamat-e-Islami offices in Shopian and Srinagar, Thoker said, “Somebody had complained about it (the Shopian office), but nobody came forward before the Tehsildar.” He said, “If they (Jamat) want to take it over, let them come forward and take the possession.”
With regard to Srinagar, Thoker said the JDF has taken a few rooms from FAT and has “proper rent deed” to show for it.

Independent educational trust originally set up by Jamat-e-Islami in 1975, FAT ran hundreds of schools in the Valley. In June 2022, the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha-led administration ordered the closure of the schools run, directly or indirectly, by the trust. The government later took over the administrative control of these schools in a phased manner. Unlike the Jamat, FAT was not banned in 2019. However, its schools were later taken over citing a 1990 ban order.

Tehsildar, Shopian, Anjum Bashir Khatak told The Indian Express that the property in question in Shopian is attached and that the authorities have issued notice to the JDF. “We have issued them a notice,” he said. “This is an attached property and nobody can occupy it. If they (JDF) don’t comply within three-four days, we will register an FIR against them.”