School in Shopian Declared ‘Unlawful Entity’ Over Alleged Militant Links

Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have declared Darul Uloom Jamia Sirajul Uloom , located in the Imam Sahib area of Shopian district, an “unlawful entity” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, citing alleged links to banned organisations and activities prejudicial to national security.

The order was issued by Anshul Garg following a detailed dossier submitted by the Shopian police. The report pointed to what officials described as “credible inputs” indicating sustained and covert connections between the institution and Jamaat-e-Islami, which has been outlawed by the Government of India since 2019.

According to the order, individuals affiliated with the banned outfit allegedly exercised de facto control over the school’s functioning, occupying key administrative and academic positions. Authorities also raised concerns that the institution had, over time, fostered an environment conducive to radicalisation, with some former students reportedly linked to militant activities.

The dossier additionally flagged financial irregularities, including lack of transparency in fund management and suspected diversion of resources. Changes in the institution’s financial control structures were said to have heightened apprehensions regarding possible misuse of funds.

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, enacted in 1967 and strengthened through subsequent amendments, serves as India’s principal legal framework to address unlawful and terrorist activities. It empowers the government to designate organisations and, following the 2019 amendment, individuals as unlawful or terrorist, enabling authorities to impose bans, freeze assets, and restrict operations. The law also allows for extended investigation timelines and detention provisions in cases linked to national security, making it one of the most stringent anti-terror legislations in the country.

Officials stated that the cumulative evidence supported by intelligence inputs and field verification provided sufficient grounds to believe that the premises were being used for purposes associated with an unlawful association.

The declaration empowers authorities to initiate further action, including restrictions on the institution’s operations and potential legal proceedings against those involved. However, as per legal provisions, the affected parties retain the right to challenge the order through appropriate judicial channels.

The move comes amid continued efforts by security agencies to curb alleged extremist networks and prevent radicalisation in sensitive regions of the Union Territory.