Srinagar/Jammu, November 9:
In a major counter-intelligence operation, Jammu and Kashmir Police carried out simultaneous raids across five districts of the Kashmir Valley on Sunday to curb the misuse of social media by anti-national elements. Parallelly, police in Ramban district conducted extensive Cordon and Search Operations (CASOs) to trace suspicious activities linked to the relatives of J&K natives operating from Pakistan (JKNOPs) and verify the antecedents of suspected individuals.
Officials said the Counter-Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) launched coordinated searches in Pulwama, Shopian, Srinagar, Baramulla, and Kulgam districts following credible intelligence inputs. The raids targeted individuals allegedly using social media platforms to spread hateful and anti-national content. Several digital devices, including mobile phones, laptops, and storage drives, were seized for forensic examination.
“The operation aims to identify those misusing online platforms to incite communal disharmony, glorify militancy, or issue threats. Some suspects have been detained for questioning, while others are under surveillance pending digital verification,” officials stated.
Police sources said that social media misuse has become a key propaganda tool for extremist networks to spread misinformation, intimidate public figures, and glorify terrorism. Security forces are also tightening their focus on drug smuggling and hawala money channels believed to fund terror activities in the region.
Meanwhile, Ramban Police, under the supervision of SSP Arun Gupta, conducted CASOs at several locations across Banihal and Gool. Joint teams of the Army, CRPF, SOG, and local police, accompanied by Duty Magistrates, searched houses of relatives and associates of Pakistan-based terrorists and overground workers (OGWs).
Officials assured that the operations were conducted smoothly without disturbing public life and reaffirmed the police’s commitment to maintaining peace and security in the Union Territory. Citizens were urged to cooperate and report any suspicious activity, with full confidentiality guaranteed.
