Srinagar, Dec 30: In a major crackdown on anti-national propaganda and secessionist misinformation, the Court of the Special Judge designated under the NIA Act, Srinagar, has issued a proclamation under Section 82 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, against accused persons in FIR No 07/2020 of Police Station Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK).
CIK officials here said that the case pertains to serious offences under Sections 153-A and 505 of the IPC and Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, registered on the basis of credible intelligence inputs revealing a well-orchestrated conspiracy by unscrupulous anti-social and anti-national elements operating at the behest of secessionist forces within and outside Kashmir.
They said that investigations had revealed that these elements were masquerading as news portals, journalists, and freelancers, while in reality, they were weaponising social media platforms like Facebook, X, and WhatsApp to create, upload, and circulate fake, motivated, exaggerated, secessionist, and out-of-context content.
The CIK officials said that the deliberate objective of this digital misinformation campaign was to incite street violence, disrupt normal life, damage public property, disturb public order, and fuel mass unrest, thereby promoting anti-national sentiments and advancing a secessionist agenda aimed at creating disaffection against the Union of India.
They said that during the investigation, the involvement of accused persons Mubeen Ahmad Shah, son of late Ali Muhammad Shah of Dock Wali Colony, Jawahar Nagar, Srinagar, Aziz-ul-Hassan Ashai alias Tony Ashai, son of Nazir Ahmad Ashai of Dock Wali Colony, Jawahar Nagar, Srinagar, and Rifat Wani, daughter of Ghulam Muhammad Wani of Trehgam, Kupwara, was firmly established.
The CIK officials said that the accused were found to be actively propagating content prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, spreading false and fabricated narratives with the clear intent of instigating disaffection against the Union of India.
They said that following the issuance of warrants of arrest, the accused persons went underground and are absconding to evade the process of law.
The CIK officials said that taking serious note of their deliberate evasion, the Special NIA Court has now issued a proclamation under Section 82 Cr PC, directing the accused to appear before the court on or before January 31, 2026.
“Failure to comply will invite stringent proceedings under Section 83 Cr PC, including attachment of property,” the CIK statement said.
The CIK officials said that despite being declared absconders, the accused were notorious for their continued hostile activities and remain highly active on social media platforms, where they persist in peddling false, fabricated, and provocative content with the intention of inciting large-scale violence and destabilising public order in Jammu and Kashmir.
The CIK statement said that the CIK reiterates its firm resolve to act decisively against all elements indulging in anti-national propaganda and digital subversion, and warns that such unlawful activities would be dealt with strictly under the law.