In coordinated searches across multiple districts of the Kashmir Valley, the Counter-Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) on Sunday detained nine individuals, including a woman, in its latest operation targeting online terror networks and radicalisation efforts via social media.
Crackdown on digital radicalisation
CIK, assisted by local police, executed raids at around ten locations spanning Srinagar, Kulgam, Baramulla, Shopian and Pulwama. The action was prompted by credible intelligence pointing to the misuse of social media platforms for inciting violence, promoting extremist narratives and spreading anti-national propaganda.
Digital devices such as SIM cards, mobile phones and tablets were seized and will undergo forensic examination. A spokesperson described the operation as a decisive step toward safeguarding internal security by rooting out online networks that recruit and radicalise youth under the guise of ideology and grievance.
"In a sweeping crackdown on online terror networks, CIK launched coordinated raids across Kashmir Valley today, sending a decisive message against extremism and cyber abuse," a spokesperson said in a statement, as per a PTI report.
Security officials warn of a broader network
PTI noted that officials indicated this is not an isolated sweep but part of an intensified push to dismantle terror-support infrastructure in the region. The detained individuals are believed to be linked to online hubs which funnel propaganda, facilitate communication between handlers and potential recruits, and coordinate unlawful activity. Local police said further raids and detentions are expected as leads develop.
This operation follows a series of earlier raids by other agencies in the Valley that targeted alleged sleeper cells and terror-related networks. The focus on digital spaces shows the evolving nature of radicalisation and the challenge for security agencies in adapting to online threats.
