In a move further tightening its crackdown on religious and educational institutions in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the Indian government has declared a famous seminary Darul Uloom Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom, located in the Imam Sahib area of Shopian district, as an “unlawful entity” under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.

The order, issued by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg, said the action was based on inputs including a dossier submitted by the Senior Superintendent of Police, Shopian, on March 24, 2026.

This development marks a significant escalation in the administration’s actions against prominent Islamic educational establishments in the valley.

The administration has accused the seminary of maintaining linkages with the banned Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliate, the Falah-e-Aam Trust, which the institutions has denied repeatedly.

Authorities have also accused the institute of “serious legal, administrative and financial irregularities”, including questionable land acquisition, lack of mandatory registration with competent authorities, and attempts to evade statutory oversight.

The administration called the institution’s response “unsustainable”, alleging that it was aware of such activities and failed to prevent misuse of its premises.

The notification authorised the district magistrate concerned to take possession of the institute’s premises and assets. They have also been directed to ensure relocation and admission of students into government schools, a move described by human rights observers as part of a systematic campaign to undermine independent educational institutions and enforce state-controlled narratives on the Kashmiri population.

The closure of Darul Uloom Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom—widely regarded as one of South Kashmir’s largest and most significant seminaries—has triggered widespread concern regarding the state of religious freedom and the continued targeting of institutions serving the underprivileged sections of Kashmiri society.