The National Investigation Agency on Sunday raided 56 locations in 14 districts of Jammu and Kashmir in connection with a terror funding case, PTI reported, citing a spokesperson of the agency.

The spokesperson said that the raids were conducted at premises related to members and office bearers of banned organisation, Jamaat-e-Islami. The Jammu and Kashmir Police along with the Central Reserve Police Force were also part of Sunday’s operation.

In February 2019, the Centre had banned Jamaat-e-Islami for five years under anti-terror laws, claiming it was “in close touch” with militant outfits and was expected to “escalate secessionist movement” in the erstwhile state.

In March, the NIA had filed a case against Jamaat-e-Islami, claiming it was involved in terror activities at the behest of Pakistan, according to the Hindustan Times.

The investigating agency had registered a case related to alleged separatist and secessionist activities of the organisation on February 5. The raids on Sunday were related to this case.

The spokesperson said that members of the Jamaat-e-Islami have been collecting funds, claiming that the money was for charity and welfare activities. However, the funds were being channelised to terrorist organisations like the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba, the official said.

“The Jamaat-e-Islami has also been motivating impressionable youth of Kashmir and recruiting new members in Jammu and Kashmir to participate in disruptive secessionist activities,” the spokesperson said.

He added that incriminating documents and electronic devices were seized during Sunday’s raids.

The searches were conducted in Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Anantnag, Shopian, Pulwama and Kulgam districts of Kashmir and Jammu’s Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar and Rajouri.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reportedly asked security forces in Jammu and Kashmir to take action to stop radicalisation of youth in the Union Territory.