CIK detains couple for allegedly radicalising women in Kashmir

Srinagar, Nov 18: The Counter Intelligence Kashmir on Tuesday detained a couple from south Kashmir’s Kulgam district for allegedly indulging in online unlawful activities, radicalising local women through curated online and offline engagements, pushing divisive narratives, and influencing vulnerable groups under the pretext of community interaction.
According to a statement, a spokesperson said that two accused – Shahzada Akhtar and her husband, Dr Umer Farooq Bhat of Kulgam’s Bugam village – were detained during a search operation in Srinagar. The couple presently resides in Srinagar’s Sheerinbagh, the CIK said.
It said that Dr Umer Farooq Bhat, who is presently working in Super Speciality of SMHS, was found indulging in online unlawful activities, misusing his official position and social legitimacy to engage in behaviour detrimental to public order and national security.
The CIK earlier today conducted coordinated searches at four locations in Srinagar, Kulgam and Anantnag in connection with a case FIR No. 05/2025 under Sections 196, 152, 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Police Station CIK.
It said that the searches are part of an ongoing crackdown against social media abusers operating in connivance with handlers across the border, who have been deliberately engaged in furthering terrorist, secessionist, and separatist agendas.
It further said that by leveraging their professional status and societal standing, the involved individuals were allegedly using social media platforms to spread disinformation, radicalise youth, incite violence and disturb public order, posing a serious threat to the peace and sovereignty of the Union of India.
“During the operation, two accused: Shahzada Akhtar and her husband Dr Umer were detained. Multiple digital devices and incriminating material having direct relevance to the investigation were also seized. The recoveries include fiver mobile phones, five SIM cards, a tablet device, and additional digital and documentary evidence and literature,” it said.
The CIK said that during the course of the investigation, it has also emerged that the detained individuals were misusing their positions and social standing to mask unlawful activities.
“The female suspect, Shahzada Akhtar, in particular, is alleged to have been involved in radicalising local women through curated online and offline engagements, pushing divisive narratives, and influencing vulnerable groups under the pretext of community interaction,” it added.
It stated that her affiliation with banned terrorist organisation ‘Dukhtaran-e-Milat’, is currently under investigation. “This dimension of the case highlights a concerning trend of the exploitation of social roles and professional facades to advance disruptive agendas”.
It said that all recovered devices are undergoing detailed forensic analysis, which is expected to unravel a broader digital network linked to organised propaganda efforts. “Early leads indicate the possibility of a wider ecosystem of collaborators and sympathisers, whose activities were aimed at amplifying extremist content and manipulating public perception,” it said. (KNO)