NIA raids NGOs and charity trusts in terror funding case; organisations condemn raids

New Delhi: On Thursday, the National Investigation Agency conducted raids in offices of several NGOs in Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir in terror funding case.

The agency seized documents, electronic devices, and records in the raids conducted at nine different places. The NGOs and trusts raided on Thursday include JK Yateem Foundation, the Salvation Movement at Srinagar, J&K Voice of Victims at Baramulla, Falah-e-Aam Trust at Budgaum and Charity Alliance.

The officials searched the house of Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, former Delhi Minority Commission Chairman, in the early morning and seized his laptop, mobile and desktop computer.

Similarly, the NIA sleuths searched the office of Human Welfare Foundation (HWF), a charity organisation, and seized documents related to its activities. In a statement released after the search, T. Arif Ali, the general secretary of the HWF said that the Foundation's treasurer Mohammed Jafar and acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Noufal PK were detained for interrogation.

Mr Ali said that the foundation's core areas of activity are education, health, employment, developing water sources, microfinance, relief and rehabilitation works across the country since last 12 years.

The statement said that the foundation is ready to help NIA and all government agencies in investigation.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has taken strong objection to media linking it with the HWF.

In a media statement, Syed Tanveer Ahmed, Jamaat's media-in-charge, said that many news channels, especially the Republic TV, have projected that HWF is a part of the Jamaat-e-Islami but the fact is that the HWF is a separate legal entity.

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), the biggest socio-cultural organisation of the Indian Muslims, has taken strong objection to media linking it with the Human Welfare Foundation (HWF)

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The Welfare Party of India's Kerala faction condemned the raids.

The Popular Front of India condemned the raids on the offices of the HWF and Charity Alliance. It said that the timing of such raids raises serious doubts about the attempt to create an issue for Bihar polls.

The Social Democratic Party of India president MK Faizy also condemned the raids and said that "raids, arrests and fake cases cannot defeat the steadfastness of a community committed to fight for their rights and fight fascism".