SRINAGAR, Nov 18 : The Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) conducted a series of coordinated searches at four locations across Srinagar, Kulgam, and Anantnag districts on Tuesday. The operation, authorized by search warrants from the Designated Court under the NIA Act in Srinagar, is linked to FIR No. 05/2025. The case invokes sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
According to an official statement, the searches are part of an ongoing crackdown against individuals misusing social media in collaboration with handlers abroad to advance terrorist, secessionist, and separatist agendas. The CIK alleged that the accused leveraged their professional status and societal standing to spread disinformation, radicalize youth, incite violence, and disrupt public order, thereby posing a significant threat to national security and the sovereignty of India.
During the operation, two individuals were detained: Shahzada Akhtar, wife of Dr. Umer Farooq Bhat, a resident of Bugam, Kulgam, presently residing in Sheeren Bagh, Srinagar; and Dr. Umer Farooq Bhat himself, who is employed at the Super Speciality Hospital of SMHS, Sheeren Bagh. CIK teams seized multiple digital devices and incriminating materials, including five mobile phones, five SIM cards, one tablet, and additional documentary evidence.
The investigation revealed that Dr. Umer Farooq, a government employee, was allegedly engaged in unlawful online activities, misusing his official position for conduct detrimental to public order and national security.
Furthermore, evidence suggests the detained individuals used their professional and social standing as a cover for illicit actions. The female suspect, Shahzada Akhtar, is specifically accused of radicalizing local women through curated online and offline interactions, promoting divisive narratives under the guise of community engagement. Her alleged affiliation with the banned terrorist organization ‘Dukhtaran-e-Milat’ is currently under investigation, highlighting a concerning trend of exploiting social roles to advance disruptive agendas.
All recovered devices are undergoing forensic analysis to uncover a broader network involved in organized propaganda. Initial findings point to a wider ecosystem of collaborators aimed at amplifying extremist content and manipulating public perception.
In its statement, the CIK emphasized that the operation sends an “unambiguous message that no individual, irrespective of position or profession, will be permitted to weaponize social or digital influence to aid terrorism or disturb public order.” The agency reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling terror ecosystems, including their operators, facilitators, and propagators, noting that the crackdown is ongoing and further actions are anticipated as the investigation progresses.
