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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
NIA court frames charges against JeI operatives, trust in fund-raising case
Special judge NIA, J&K, Sandeep Gandotra, framed charges against three individuals and an educational trust for allegedly raising and utilising funds to further the activities of the proscribed organisation Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir (JeI, J&K), in violation of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. The charges were framed in case RC-07/2022/NIA/JMU, after the NIA found prima facie material under sections 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and sections 10, 13, 20, 22-C, 38, and 39 of the UAPA. (File) The accused include Amir Mohammad Shamsi, of Rehtal village, Rajouri; Abdul Hamid Ganai, alias Abdul Hamid Fayaz, of Nadigam, Shopian; and Mushtaq Ahmad Mir, alias Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar of Thanamang, Darhal, Rajouri, presently residing in Pakistan. The fourth accused is Al-Huda Educational Trust, a Rajouri-based organisation allegedly used as a financial front for JeI. The charges were framed in case RC-07/2022/NIA/JMU, after the NIA found prima facie material under sections 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and sections 10, 13, 20, 22-C, 38, and 39 of the UAPA. As per the NIA, Amir Mohammad Shamsi, who previously served as Amir-e-Jila of JeI in Rajouri, conspired with Abdul Hamid Ganai, then Amir-e-Jamaat of JeI, J&K, to collect funds through Al-Huda Educational Trust even after JeI was declared an unlawful association in February 2019. Witness statements and financial documents revealed that Shamsi received ₹1.80 lakh from Mushtaq Ahmad Mir, a Pakistan-based terrorist affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), and disbursed ₹1 lakh to Ganai for furtherance of separatist activities. The court noted that while disclosure statements recorded before executive magistrates were inadmissible, independent evidence—including statements of trustees and local donors under Section 164 CrPC—substantiated the prosecution's case. Advocates Syed Aqib and Adil Pandit strongly opposed the charges, arguing that no substantive material had been recovered and that confessions lacked evidentiary value under the Indian Evidence Act. However, the court held that the cumulative evidence, including Trust deeds, financial transfers, and corroborative witness testimonies, justified the framing of charges. Proceedings under Section 512 CrPC have been initiated against Mushtaq Ahmad Mir, who is absconding and believed to be operating from Pakistan.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Terror funding: Special NIA court frames charges against Jamaat-e-Islami trio, trust
JAMMU: A special NIA court in Jammu framed charges against three Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), J&K, operatives and a trust on Tuesday, for allegedly raising and utilising funds to further the activities of the proscribed outfit in violation of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. The accused are Amir Mohammad Shamsi from Rajouri's Rehtal; Abdul Hamid Ganai (alias Abdul Hamid Fayaz) from Shopian's Nadigam, and Pakistan-based Mushtaq Ahmad Mir (alias Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar) from Rajouri's Darhal. Rajouri-based organisation Al-Huda Educational Trust — an alleged front for JeI's illegal transactions — was named the fourth accused. JeI was first declared a banned organisation by Indian govt in Feb 28, 2019, for its activities against the security, integrity and sovereignty of the Union of India. On Feb 27, 2024, the prohibition for the 'unlawful association' was extended for five more years under UAPA Section 3(1). According to the prosecution, Amir Mohammad Shamsi, who had earlier served as JeI's Amir-e-Jila in Rajouri, conspired with Abdul Hamid Ganai, then Amir-e-Jamaat of the outfit, to collect funds through Al-Huda Educational Trust despite JeI having been declared a proscribed association in Feb 2019. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Family Adopted A New 'Dog', But When The Vet Sees It He Calls The Police Undo 'Witness statements and financial documents revealed that Shamsi received Rs 1.8 lakh from Mushtaq Ahmad Mir, a Pakistan-based terrorist affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen, and disbursed Rs 1 lakh to Ganai for furtherance of separatist activities,' the prosecution informed the court. Special NIA judge Sandeep Gandotra noted that while disclosure statements recorded before executive magistrates were inadmissible, independent evidence — including statements of trustees and local donors under CrPC Section 164 — substantiated the prosecution's case. The court held that cumulative evidence, including trust deeds, money transfers, and corroborative witness testimonies, justified the framing of charges under IPC Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) and UAPA Sections 10, 13, 20, 22C, 38, and 39. Meanwhile, proceedings under CrPC Section 512 have been initiated against fugitive accused Mir, who is believed to be operating from Pakistan.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bangladesh, a year after Sheikh Hasina's ouster
Bangladesh today is abysmally different from the trajectory promised to the people by Professor Muhammad Yunus when he was sworn in (August 8, 2024) as Chief Adviser of the Interim Government. Many myths have been shattered. The first myth that has unravelled is that Sheikh Hasina's ouster was the result of a 'spontaneous students' uprising'. It is now accepted that the 'meticulously designed' regime change operation was the handiwork of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), the radical Islamist political party that fought against the creation of Bangladesh in 1971. In 2024, as in 1971, the JeI was strongly supported by Pakistan, backed by key external powers including the United States and China. The JeI is the power behind the Chief Adviser, controlling every decision. The second myth concerns the legitimacy and constitutional validity of the Yunus-led regime. On August 8, 2024 they took the oath of allegiance to the Constitution of Bangladesh. However, this Constitution has no provision for an interim government. Even though the Bangladesh High Court (on December 17, 2024) restored the system of caretaker government, the Yunus-led Interim Government cannot be considered a caretaker government. The Yunus regime has violated the mandated neutrality and non-party requirements of the caretaker government. Members of the Hizb-ut Tahrir, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and Hefazat-e-Islam have been included as advisers in his regime. In a tweet (now deleted), one of the advisers expressed their desire to establish a caliphate in Bangladesh based on Sharia law, and even spoke about a civil war to achieve this goal. The strongly Islamist ideological leanings and objectives of those who hold the reins of power in Bangladesh have alienated them from the people. An election delaying tactic The third myth relates to the raison d'etre of any interim government. Its mandate can only be to ensure that free, fair and inclusive elections are organised within the specified 90-day period, with the participation of all registered political parties. An interim regime is not authorised to take any major decisions, especially those with constitutional significance or implications. Such decisions can be taken only by an elected parliament. Instead of preparing for elections, the Yunus-led interim regime has initiated a reform process, insisting that this must be completed before the elections. It has set up reform commissions for the Constitution, for electoral reforms, and for police reforms, among others. The JeI is the key protagonist of these reforms, which it hopes will boost its vote share far above the meagre 5% to 10% it has been receiving. This so-called reform process is merely an excuse to delay the elections, a step strongly opposed by the Army and by major political parties such as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party which are insisting that elections be held by December 2025. This issue is now rapidly coming to a head, and election dates may be announced very soon. Led by the JeI, the interim regime is unleashing unspeakable violence on the people. Prime targets are the non-Muslim minorities (Hindus, Christians, Buddhists) as well as Muslim religious minorities (Sufis and Ahmadiyyas). Equally vicious has been the violence unleashed against Awami League members and their supporters. Every statue, every building, every institution associated with the Liberation War of 1971 has been destroyed. Over the months, as this violence has continued unabated, with varying degrees of ferocity, a huge backlash has built up among the people. Awami Leaguers have been jailed in large numbers or just brutally slaughtered. In May 2025, all Awami League activities were banned. While Sheikh Hasina is being tried on charges of ordering attacks on students (during the unrest of July-August 2024), there is deliberate amnesia about the burning and looting (by the mobs) of 400 police thanas across Bangladesh, followed by the killing of policemen in the hundreds, even thousands, using these looted weapons. The decision by the interim regime to indemnify itself and all 'the students and people who actively took part in the mass uprising of July-August' against harassment or arrest has been sharply criticised within and outside Bangladesh. A party, its disconnect The 'students' party, the National Citizen Party (NCP), formed in February 2025, is dubbed the King's Party, owing direct allegiance to Mr. Yunus. So far, the party has no legal status since it is not registered with the Election Commission. At first it included erstwhile members or sympathisers of the Islami Chhatra Shibir (students' wing of the JeI) and claims 'it was established to fight for the rights of the student community'. Yet, it has little or no following among university students. On July 16, 2025, NCP leaders held a rally in Gopalgunj, the hometown of the Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, with the reported intention of desecrating his mausoleum in Tungipara. The NCP was strongly resisted by the local people, staunch supporters of the Awami League. The Bangladesh Army is said to have supported the NCP by firing on unarmed civilians, resulting in the loss of several lives. The Gopalgunj incident has caused a furore, with dissatisfaction against the NCP and the Interim regime reaching new highs. A complaint has now been filed with the United Nations, describing this as a genocidal attack on the people of Bangladesh. Important institutions of state such as the judiciary, the central bank and even the media have been compromised. In August 2024, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Governor of the Bangladesh Bank were surrounded by mobs and forced to resign. This pattern of mobocracy soon became the norm. Strict media control has been ensured by peremptorily taking over media houses. Journalists have been imprisoned since the early days of the interim regime, many on charges of murder. Many have lost their jobs, and face penury. This massive clampdown on an otherwise vibrant and comparatively free media has allowed the interim regime to peddle its own version of events to the global media. Economic distress, a patient India However, it is difficult to hide the overwhelming economic distress being faced by the people. Growth rates have halved from the robust 6% and more per annum, that was the norm under Sheikh Hasina. Factories have shut down due to poor supply chain management, resulting in joblessness and hyper-inflation. In July 2025, Bangladesh Bank highlighted continuing macroeconomic challenges due to 'persistent inflation, uncertainties associated with the forthcoming elections, slowing economic growth and stagnant private investment'. The economic distress is, in many ways, the direct result of the foreign policy goals set by the Yunus regime. As can be expected, the JeI is not averse to the moniker, 'client state of Pakistan', that is increasingly used for Bangladesh. The events of July-August 2024 were preceded and accompanied by vicious anti-India propaganda. Harsh criticism of Sheikh Hasina as a 'fascist dictator' was invariably followed by blaming India for the state of affairs in Bangladesh. The mutually beneficial trade and economic partnership between these two neighbouring countries was criticised as being one-sided and unfair. One year of this unrelenting barrage has now boomeranged on the Yunus regime. Public opinion has turned against it because, except for words, it has provided no succour to the people of Bangladesh. Across the nation, the shared refrain openly describes the 'earlier times' as 'being better', including the benefits to Bangladesh of their strong economic, trade and investment links with India. India has shown a lot of patience in dealing with the interim regime. In August 2024, India had conveyed its willingness to continue with and build upon its links with Bangladesh. In April 2025, during the bilateral meeting with Mr. Yunus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India's support for a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh, enunciating India's people-centric approach to the relationship. Unfortunately, the hand of friendship was rebuffed. Now, a new grouping of China, Pakistan and Bangladesh is sought to be created. Bangladesh must have early free, fair and inclusive elections under a new caretaker government. India is confident that the new elected government, one that truly reflects the wishes of the people of Bangladesh, will work to re-establish a cordial and mutually beneficial relationship with India. Veena Sikri is a former High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh
Economic Times
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Bangladesh Islamists: Jamaat-e-Islami stage mega rally to challenge old ally BNP
AP Thousands of supporters of Bangladesh's largest Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami attend a rally in a show of strength ahead of elections expected next year, in Dhaka, Bangladesh Bangladesh's biggest Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami on Saturday held its first-ever stand-alone grand rally in Dhaka amid efforts to undermine secular character of the country and bring theocracy into JeI last staged a grand rally in Paltan Maidan in the then East Pakistan ahead of the 1970 elections. The Saturday's rally was chaired by the party's Ameer Shafiqur Rahman. He warned party supporters that Bangladesh might witness further violent struggle to keep it on the right track. In an oblique reference to Awami League Rahman said, 'From 28 October 2006, onward, all those responsible for different politically motivated 'massacres', including that of deaths of army officers in the then paramilitary BDR border guard force and the events of July 2024, must be tried on the soil of Bangladesh." The JeI which worked against independence of Bangladesh was completely banned by the Awami League days ahead of Sheikh Hasina's ouster. The interim regime led by Professor Muhammad Yunus later lifted the ban. At the rally, Rahman said that the party would now spearhead a movement against corruption and extortion. JeI's show of strength may pit it against its long-term ally voted to power, no lawmaker or minister associated with the party would accept government plots and tax-exempt vehicles or personally handle public funds, he claimed. One of the major agendas of the party is to wage a campaign to introduce a proportional representation (PR) system in the national party leader Nayeb-e-Ameer Abdullah Mohammad Taher told the rally that elections under the PR system were the most appropriate method in the current political context. JeI's track record in general elections has been patchy as the party could never win a decent number of seats even when in alliance with is opposed to the PR system. Several other Islamist parties and leaders of the student-led National Citizen Party (NCP) attended the rally. Rahman, 66, collapsed twice while addressing the rally and was later hospitalised, according to party leaders.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bangladesh Islamists: Jamaat-e-Islami stage mega rally to challenge old ally BNP
Bangladesh's biggest Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami on Saturday held its first-ever stand-alone grand rally in Dhaka amid efforts to undermine secular character of the country and bring theocracy into power. The JeI last staged a grand rally in Paltan Maidan in the then East Pakistan ahead of the 1970 elections. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Data Analytics Others others Cybersecurity Data Science Data Science Digital Marketing MBA Product Management PGDM Artificial Intelligence Technology MCA Healthcare Design Thinking CXO Leadership healthcare Operations Management Public Policy Degree Finance Project Management Management Skills you'll gain: Data Analysis & Visualization Predictive Analytics & Machine Learning Business Intelligence & Data-Driven Decision Making Analytics Strategy & Implementation Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Applied Business Analytics Starts on Jun 13, 2024 Get Details The Saturday's rally was chaired by the party's Ameer Shafiqur Rahman . He warned party supporters that Bangladesh might witness further violent struggle to keep it on the right track. In an oblique reference to Awami League Rahman said, 'From 28 October 2006, onward, all those responsible for different politically motivated 'massacres', including that of deaths of army officers in the then paramilitary BDR border guard force and the events of July 2024, must be tried on the soil of Bangladesh." The JeI which worked against independence of Bangladesh was completely banned by the Awami League days ahead of Sheikh Hasina's ouster. The interim regime led by Professor Muhammad Yunus later lifted the ban. Live Events At the rally, Rahman said that the party would now spearhead a movement against corruption and extortion. JeI's show of strength may pit it against its long-term ally BNP . If voted to power, no lawmaker or minister associated with the party would accept government plots and tax-exempt vehicles or personally handle public funds, he claimed. One of the major agendas of the party is to wage a campaign to introduce a proportional representation (PR) system in the national election. Senior party leader Nayeb-e-Ameer Abdullah Mohammad Taher told the rally that elections under the PR system were the most appropriate method in the current political context. JeI's track record in general elections has been patchy as the party could never win a decent number of seats even when in alliance with BNP. BNP is opposed to the PR system. Several other Islamist parties and leaders of the student-led National Citizen Party (NCP) attended the rally. Rahman, 66, collapsed twice while addressing the rally and was later hospitalised, according to party leaders.
