CIK executes proclamation against three absconding accused in digital propaganda case

Srinagar, Jan 13: The Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) on Tuesday executed proclamation orders against three absconding accused involved in a serious anti-national and unlawful activities case.
In a statement, a spokesperson said that the proclamation was carried out in compliance with the Special NIA court order in Srinagar Kupwara in connection with FIR No. 07/2020 under Sections 153-A & 505 IPC and Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act at Police Station CIK.
The statement reads that the absconding offenders are Mubeen Ahmad Shah S/o Late Ali Mohammad Shah, Aziz-ul-Hassan Ashai alias Tony Ashai S/o Nazir Ahmad Ashai—both residents of Srinagar and Rifat Wani D/o Ghulam Mohammad Wani of Kupwara.
“The case pertains to grave and serious offences threatening public order, communal harmony and national integrity. Investigation has conclusively revealed a well-orchestrated conspiracy hatched by unscrupulous anti-social and anti-national elements acting at the behest of secessionist forces operating from within and outside Kashmir,” it reads.
It added that during the course of investigation, it has surfaced that the accused deliberately masqueraded as journalists, freelancers and news portals, while in reality running a covert digital warfare campaign.
“By abusing social media platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and WhatsApp, they systematically created and disseminated fake, motivated, exaggerated, secessionist and out-of-context content”.
It reads that the calculated objective of this campaign was to incite street violence, disrupt normal civic life, provoke damage to public property, disturb public order and fuel mass unrest, thereby promoting anti-national sentiments and attempting to create disaffection against the Union of India.
CIK reiterated that freedom of expression cannot be allowed to be misused as a weapon against the nation. “Any individual or group attempting to camouflage unlawful, secessionist or communal activities under the garb of journalism or online activism will face swift, relentless and legally robust action,” it added.