Fresh allegations of financial mismanagement and links with the banned Jamaat-e-Islami have surfaced regarding a recently closed seminary in South Kashmir’s Shopian district. The institution was declared an unlawful entity by the Jammu and Kashmir administration on April 24 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), following a detailed dossier submitted by the Senior Superintendent of Police, Shopian.
The district administration subsequently barred the entry of unauthorised persons into the premises.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the seminary, which was established in 1994, was allegedly acquired through forceful coercion and by setting aside legal procedures. They claim the land for the school was obtained through collusion with revenue officials at the time.
The institution was also allegedly operating without a valid registration from the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education and lacked mandatory clearance certificates.
It was running a Fazila College affiliated with the University of Kashmir, in violation of regulatory norms.
Officials claimed that the seminary’s sustained linkages with Jamaat-e-Islami had turned it into a “hub of radicalisation”.
As many as 17 students from the seminary have been booked in terror-related cases across J&K under various laws, including the UAPA, the Arms Act, and the NDPS Act.
The students booked under various provisions of law include Owais Ahmad Malik, resident of Arwani, Bijbehara, Anantnag; Rayees Ahmad Teli of Kadgam (Shopian); Aadil Gulzar of Kanelwan (Anantnag); Qasim Mohammad of Midoora (Tral); Shakir Ahmad Paul of Dangerpora (Shopian); Hilal Ahmad Wani of Budgam; Munib-ul-Haq of Sugan; Zubair Ahmad Nengroo of Aloora; Aijaz Ahmad Paul of Losdanew; Sajad Ahmad Bhat of Marhama; Nazim Nazir Dar of UrparaNagbal; Muzaffer Ahmad Bhat of DK Pora; Yawar Majeed Itoo of Safanagri; Asif Ahmad Lone of Turkwangam; Showkat Ahmad Kumar of Trenz; Tariq Ahmad Sheikh of Chitragam; and Javid Rashid Bhat of Ganderbal.
The management of the seminary has denied the allegations. Its chairman, Mohammad Shafi Lone said the school has 800 students enrolled.
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