SRINAGAR, Indian-administered Kashmir — Authorities in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir have taken over the administrative control of dozens of seized schools previously linked to the banned Jamaat-e-Islami group a move critics say is aimed at severing the region’s cultural ties and imposing a Hindu nationalist agenda.
Officials confirmed the latest seizures involve 58 private schools associated with Jamaat-e-Islami and its Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT). Most of these institutions are located in north Kashmir, according to the Kashmir Media Service.
The takeover follows a larger seizure of 215 FAT-affiliated schools in August 2025. FAT once operated a network of 350 schools across the disputed territory before it was declared unlawful in 1990. The schools currently serve nearly 60,000 students and employ 4,000 staff members.
Political Fallout and Accusations of Hinduization
>The decision has drawn sharp criticism from political leaders and Hurriyat figures, who view it as part of a broader to target Muslim-run educational institutions in the region.
Jamaat-e-Islami was banned by India in 2019 under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), with the ban extended in 2024. Critics argue school seizures are a tool to culturally Hinduize the Kashmiri population.
Under new arrangement, Deputy Commissioners will now run the schools and are expected to form new management committees, which opponents fear could be dominated by Hindutva groups.
Internal Rifts Within Local Administration
The crackdown has also exposed divisions within the local political setup. Education Minister Sakeena Itoo publicly accused the Indian bureaucracy of altering the original takeover orders, suggesting a lack of consensus on the strategy.
These internal differences highlight the complex dynamics of governance in the restive region, where New Delhi maintains tight control through its appointed administration.
